Stagecoach to investment £1.5m after Eastbourne deal

STAGECOACH has pledged to invest a further £1.5 million in "green" buses after buying Eastbourne Buses from the local council.

The Perth-based transport company confirmed it had completed the deal with Eastbourne Borough Council yesterday. It was named as the preferred bidder last month.

Eastbourne Buses, based in the south coast town, has about 150 employees and nearly 70 vehicles. The business has a turnover of about £5.6m.

Stagecoach, which did not reveal how much it had paid for the company, said there would be changes in management and administration roles.

But it gave a commitment that there would be no compulsory redundancies among driving and engineering staff.

It has also pledged to spend £1.5m buying new, more fuel efficient buses for Eastbourne "to ensure local people have access to a comprehensive, high quality and affordable bus network". The firm said the new buses would have some of the greenest engines in Europe.

Stagecoach already has a large bus business in south-east England, with more than 2,000 staff.