With sales of electric cars increasing faster than petrol or diesel cars, Cheltenham Borough council is considering how best to make additional Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points available across the borough.
The project will help support the switch over from petrol and diesel powered vehicles, as part of the council’s priority to become a net carbon zero council and town by 2030.
The council is working to identify key locations across Cheltenham where more charging points can be delivered. This would be for use by the public, both during the day for commuters and visitors, and overnight by residents who do not have access to charging at home on a driveway or garage.
Cllr Max Wilkinson, cabinet member for climate emergency, said: “To tackle the climate emergency, we know we need to radically overhaul local transport options. While electric vehicles are only part of the solution, it’s important that we do what we can to ensure people have convenient charging options in our car parks. To help us in this aim, we will be looking for a commercial partner with relevant experience.
“We are also investing in our council vehicles by making the switch to electric vehicles wherever possible, as well as moving from diesel to cleaner biodiesel in our waste and recycling vehicles in the short term. All this work will help improve air quality in our town while reducing our carbon footprint too.”
As part of the progressive step towards cleaner travel and carbon zero goal, the Mayor Cllr Steve Harvey, will be using a leased e-car for the remainder of his engagements in office from now to May 2022.
Towards the end of a typical year in office, a mayor will have attended 200 community engagements, sometimes 3 or 4 in the same day, with the total annual mileage being as high as 6000 miles.
Cllr Harvey says: “It is absolutely right that the Mayor’s office champions and inspires the community to switch to EV. I’m really pleased with this positive environmental step which will see a zero emissions car being used to attend Cheltenham’s civic and ceremonial events.’’
A recent installation of EV points at the Central Depot on Swindon Road will provide charging facilities for the new EV car, council and UBICO fleet, and some public charging points are already available in the council’s Regent Arcade and Town Centre East car parks and on street in Montpellier.
Cllr Peter Jeffries, cabinet member finance and assets, continued: “As a council, we strive to make the best use of our assets to deliver for the people of Cheltenham. By investing in the electric charging network and expanding the provision of charging points on council owned land, we’ll continue to demonstrate how effective we are in securing good and efficient asset management.”
A full report will go to the council’s cabinet later in the year.
In 2019, Cheltenham Borough Council declared a climate emergency and a commitment to be a carbon neutral council and borough by 2030. The goal of a carbon neutral borough will be met by delivering activity which supports and promotes the town’s core vision to be a place where everyone thrives.
For more information on the council’s climate emergency work, visit www.cheltenham.gov.uk/climate or find out more about cheltenhamzero.org, a partnership approach of local private and public organisations, charities and community groups – working together to achieve a net-zero carbon emissions in Cheltenham by 2030.