The Broads Authority, a member of the National Park family, has added nine Toyota Hilux Double Cabs to its fleet for use by rangers and construction maintenance teams across its sites around the Broads.
The Norfolk and Suffolk Broads is Britain’s largest protected wetland and third largest inland waterway. Holding national park status it is home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the UK. The Broads Authority was set up in 1989 and holds responsibility for conservation, planning, recreation and waterways.
With a real need for reliable, excellent off road robust vehicles that meet the requirements of the Broads onsite teams, the organisation favoured the outright purchase of the Toyota Hilux HL2Double Cabs from Dingles Toyota in Norwich.
The cars will be used by rangers in their bid to patrol the Broads sites and maintain the surrounding countryside. They will carry equipment for countryside management and attend events to tell people about the Broads and the work of the Authority. The construction and maintenance team undertake a variety of duties, from dredging mud to maintaining the moorings, and so again need vehicles that can accommodate tools with a good towing capacity.
Rob Holman, Director of Resources at The Broad Authority, commented: “The Authority is striving to reduce its CO2 emissions at every opportunity and these vehicles will help us achieve that – and save money.
“Our Rangers and Construction & Maintenance Teams need vehicles that have a good towing and carrying capacity, together with the ability to ‘rough it’ off road. The new Toyota Hilux met all our operational requirements and will cut the equivalent of their own weight in CO2 emissions in a year compared to some of our existing vehicles.
“They are much more fuel efficient and buying them, as opposed to leasing our current fleet, will save us a significant sum within a few years. It goes to show that going green is not always more expensive.”
The 4WD Toyota Hilux HL2 Double Cab costs £18,290 (commercial vehicle on the road price) has a 144bhp 2.5-litre D-4D engine with a combined fuel consumption figure of 38.7mpg. Features include air conditioning, Auto Disconnecting Differential, rear locking differential, remote central locking and heated electrically adjustable door mirrors.
