Cabinet approves infrastructure plan for new electric vehicle chargers in Wiltshire

Tuesday, 12 October 2021 01:00

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet has today (Tuesday 12th October) agreed to approve a new electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure plan, a decision that will help to reduce carbon emissions in the county and improve facilities for EV drivers by both upgrading what’s already in place and increasing the number of available chargers.

The plan will ensure there are more EV chargers throughout the county that are identified by local communities and town, parish and city councils. It sets out the different types of charging in the county and how they will be improved over the next three years.

In council car parks, every urban community with a population over 10,000 will have at least one council-sponsored public chargepoint, the current infrastructure will be replaced, users will pay a new charge of 35p per KwH, and the council will support commercial providers to add their own chargers.

In terms of residential charging, the council will support city, town and parish councils to secure On-street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS) grant funding for residential chargepoints on Wiltshire Council land with council grants of up to £2,500 per site. It is looking for partners to consider the installation of charging hubs, at central and out of town locations, and also adding more chargepoints to its own buildings so the council fleet can be converted to electric vehicles.

The plan will also encourage businesses to install workplace chargepoints, and will ensure all chargepoints on council-owned land will be supplied with energy from 100% zero-carbon sources.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “This new strategy will greatly improve the EV charging infrastructure throughout Wiltshire.

“It will also enable local town, parish and city councils to identify suitable locations for chargers in their communities, which will allow them to apply for grant funding to install chargers where they are most needed.

“This infrastructure plan will play a significant role in reducing Wiltshire’s carbon emissions and in encouraging more people to make the move to electric vehicles, and we look forward to the chargers being installed in the near future".

To find out more about EV charge points in Wiltshire click here to read the full Cabinet report, click here.

More from Local News

Shops to stay open for 'Festive Shopping' evening

Shops will open until 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5th, for an evening of festive shopping in Salisbury, the City of the Stars, this Christmas.
A step towards a safer community as Speedwatch group gets underway

Laverstock & Ford Parish Council saw their inaugural Community Speedwatch get underway this month after some initial setbacks.
Trainee teacher takes part in prestigious Lord Mayor’s Show in London to raise awareness of liver disease

A trainee teacher and marathon runner who is waiting for a liver transplant, was a special guest at the Lord Mayor’s Show in London last Saturday, representing the British Liver Trust, the UK’s leading liver health charity.
Residents encouraged to ‘Ask the Leader’ at event in Amesbury

Wiltshire Council is continuing to host its series of community events across the county where people can ask questions to find out more about the work of the council, with the Leader of the Council having visited 16 of Wiltshire’s 18 community areas so far.
Three men arrested in connection with van break-in series

Wiltshire Police have arrested three people in connection with an investigation into thefts from vans across the county, during which thousands of pounds worth of power tools have been stolen.
Wiltshire Council working hard to reduce overspend

Wiltshire Council has provided its second formal update of the 2024/25 financial year, which shows its previously forecasted overspending has reduced significantly.
Wiltshire's recycling collection to change from 2027

Wiltshire Council’s Cabinet has agreed its future approach to collecting recycling when its current contracts to carry out this service come to an end in 2026.
Salisbury based trains fitted with new anti-slip tech

A new initiative between Network Rail and South Western Railway has more than doubled the number of trains treating the railway and keeping the tracks leaf-free this Autumn.