Charging points for Bollington car park

Charging points for electric vehicles are to be installed Pool Bank car park, in Bollington.

Installation of six charging points, a joint initiative between the town council and green group Mad About Power, is scheduled for March 2021.

However, Mad About Power estimate that a total of 100 will  be needed in Bollington alone by 2030, when all new vehicles sold will be electric.

Mad About Power spokesperson, Ruth Tams, said: “We welcome this commitment from Bollington Town Council.

“Supporting people to switch from fossil-fuel powered vehicles to electric vehicles is critical if we are to reduce climate-wrecking emissions from transport and tackle the air pollution crisis that is undermining our communities’ health.

“People told us a lack of suitable charging points was one of the main things stopping them switching to an electric vehicle in our recent transport survey.

“With so much terraced housing in Bollington, installing a home charging point is simply not an option for many residents.

“We hope this commitment will give people confidence to make the switch to an electric car.”

The group now hopes that Cheshire East Council introduce electric charging points more widely through the borough.

Mad About Power is part of Transition Bollington, a group who undertook a transport survey last year that got 429 responses.

Among the recommendations to come form it were more electric vehicle infrastructure, a default 20mph speed limit and better public transport.

The six charging points will be 75 per cent funded by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles with Bollington Town Council paying for the remainder.

Power for charging will come from a connection for an automated toilet that was removed two years ago.

Councillor John Stewart, Mayor of Bollington, said: “We are working together to make our town a greener, cleaner and more sustainable place to live.

“This new project to install six electric vehicle charging points is one of the ways we are aiming to reduce carbon emissions.”