Depot visit for EV naming winners

Winners of the contest to name our new electric sweeper and bin lorry picked up goodie bags and got to see their suggestions emblazoned on the vehicles.

Five-year-old Esme Walton-Wright and Tabitha Tame, aged eight, were invited to our Whetstone depot after their entries were chosen from dozens of others.

Esme, a winner with moniker Starshine Sweepalot, has already received a Lego replica sweeper. While Tabitha got a replica bin lorry for her submission, Bin Richard the 3rd.

Councillors Les Phillimore and Cheryl Cashmore, who picked out the titles, were on hand to present extra prizes during the depot visit.

Both Esme and Tabitha were thrilled with their prizes and said they were delighted their names were chosen.

The competition was open to school-age children and offered a fun challenge as well as marking the Council’s commitment to improving air quality with ambitions for a zero-emission fleet.

Cllr Phillimore, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, said: "It was super meeting the two youngsters and credit to them for their imaginative entries."

Cllr Cashmore, Portfolio Holder for Climate, added: "Congratulations to Esme and Tabitha for naming our two new electric vehicles. We’re delighted to have the vehicles in our fleet, helping us cut emissions and our carbon footprint."

Both vehicles will do the rounds on District streets, especially in the designated Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). These feature major traffic routes and dense populations where air pollutant levels may be higher than Government-set targets.

An Air Quality Grant of £573,701 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA) paid for the vehicles. Part was used to purchase the sweeper while the rest went on an electric conversion kit for a diesel bin lorry.

Air Quality Grants aim to support local authorities in tackling pollutants including fine particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. This can create a healthier environment for everyone. 

Councillor Les Phillimore
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services

Councillor Cheryl Cashmore
Portfolio Holder for Climate