Mason Moore | Hinckley Reporter | 1 October 2022

HINCKLEY and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) are planning to increase the number of public Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs) across the borough by December.

They have made their plans known to install 11 more brand new electric vehicle charging points, which builds on the 12 other twin charging points in the town.

The expansion to the existing charging network will see points installed in Borough Council-operated car parks on Rectory Lane in Market Bosworth, Hall Fields in Earl Shilton, and Stanley Street in Barwell.

Bosworth’s charging points are provided in partnership with Market Bosworth Parish Council, who jointly own Rectory Lane car park with the Borough Council.

The chargers will be Pod Point 7kwh twin points. These can charge two cars simultaneously and will run off the same app as the Hinckley charge points, making it easy for electric vehicle drivers to charge on council-owned car parks.

The funding, totalling £82,500, was secured from the Office of Low Emissions, as a part of the government’s plan to ‘increase the charging infrastructure’ for electric vehicles, ready for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030.

Increasing the number of electric charging points available to borough residents and visitors is a ‘key action’ in the council’s ‘ambitious’ Climate Change strategy.

And, this will be essential if the council hope to meet the government target of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

These locations have been chosen because they have a high number of properties in close proximity with no private parking where a home charger can be installed. Therefore, these residents will have to rely on a public charging network.

Council Leader, Coun. Stuart Bray, said: “By increasing the provision of electric vehicle charging points, we hope to provide the essential infrastructure needed to encourage more car owners in Hinckley and Bosworth to choose electric vehicles over petrol and diesel equivalents.

“The governments ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles comes in from 2030. These charge points at three key villages in the borough will help drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly where they don’t have a drive or off-street parking and therefore will be reliant on the public charging network.

“Travel is one of the biggest contributors to our borough’s carbon footprint, so, as part of our response to the climate and ecological emergency, it’s vital we make the changes needed to help tackle this.”

Executive Member for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Coun. Martin Cartwright, added: “Community groups and parishes can apply for funding for public charge points through the Parish and Community initiative Fund.

“Application for funding in 2023 is open until 6 January 2023. All details are available on the council website. As part of the government funding, residents living within a short walking distance of the car parks will be eligible for permits to enable them to park for free while charging at the points.

“The offer aims to make it easier for residents who may not have off street parking available at home to charge a vehicle nearby in a bid to make electric vehicles more appealing in the future.”

As we reported in March early last year, two Council-operated car parks were among the first in the borough to be fitted with charging points – these were the Castle car park and Lower Bond Street car park.