Following reports indicating that Cheshire East has large gaps in terms of electric vehicle (EV) charge points, local councillors have supported plans for installing more options around the county.
Local authorities and enterprises planning electrical installations in Chester and Cheshire West, as well as Cheshire East, should only use certified contractors to complete work. Qualified electricians have the skills and experience to correctly fit EV charge points, ensuring they operate safely and at maximum performance.
Cheshire East’s committee for highways and transportation discussed the council’s EV charging strategy at a recent meeting. The benefits of increasing the number of charging facilities in the county car parks were outlined at the session. These included improving the local environment, encouraging more residents to buy EVs and generating revenue for the local authority.
Statistics presented by Richard Hibbert, Cheshire East’s lead for strategic transport, showed that by mid-2020, a total of 2,100 EVs were registered in the borough to private users. With 2030’s planned ban on petrol and diesel vehicles being sold, this figure is expected to grow.
Councillor Mike Sewart, attending the meeting, commented:
“I represent an area that’s got a lot of houses that open directly on to a road, they’re not going to be able to have a charging point. We have to cater for those people.”
Sewart added that installing electric charge points in the council-run car parks across the county would also help boost the economy in town centres around the borough.
The council has now unanimously backed the decision to increase the county’s EV charging offering.