West Sussex school transport fleet gets £2.25m boost with 52 new minibuses
West Sussex County Council is to spend more than £2.2m buying 52 minibuses to take children to and from school.
The council operates around 130 home-to-school transport routes across the county, mostly for children with special needs and disabilities, but also for pupilsliving in rural areas.
A report from the council’s fleet resource & support team leader said two of the vehicles in the current fleet have been written off “following incidents” and are beyond economicrepair, while a further two are provided through short-term hire arrangements.
The remaining leased vehicles are approaching the end of their lease terms. The report said that extending those terms would leave the council operating an ageing fleet that is experiencing increasing maintenance requirements and associated costs.
On Thursday (October 29), Chief Fire Officer Gary Ball approved the award of a contract, worth £2,251,689.96, to Ford Motor Company Ltd for the purchase and supply of 52 17-seater Transit minibuses. Delivery of all vehicles is expected to be complete by September 2027.
The report added: “The replacement vehicles will be like-for-like models, ensuring continuity of service and operational suitability for the transport routes they undertake.
“The use of equivalent vehicles will also minimise any additional training requirements and maintain driver familiarity with vehicle controls, operation and passenger carrying arrangements.”