The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Seven new charging points for electric cars, which would cost thousands of pounds to install, are being proposed for South Holland.
There are currently 100 such vehicles in the area according to South Holland District Council, which is looking to install charging machines for them in Holbeach, Pinchbeck, Sutton Bridge, Crowland and at several locations in Spalding.
The authority is hoping it won’t have to pay for the installation.
A report to its cabinet says that SHDC will bid for funding of up to £7,500 or 75 per cent for the installation of each machine, and it will look to fund the additional 25 per cent through private sector electric vehicle installers.
If the funding bids are unsuccessful, the costs would be met by SHDC reserves.
There are currently two charging points open to the public in South Holland, one at Springfields Shopping Outlet and another at CaNzeBuZo carbon neutral business zone in Long Sutton.
Five charging stations in the area are located in private businesses.
The cabinet report states: “Ownership of electric vehicles has increased each quarter since 2015 according to statistics acquired from the Department of Transport.
“The building of charging stations will therefore help support current owners and promote electric vehicle ownership among South Holland residents while making us a more attractive place for our visitors.
“Success can be measured by an increase in new electric vehicle registrations within the district due to greater promotion of electric vehicles and improved facilities.”
Coun Malcolm Chandler, SHDC’s deputy leader, told the cabinet: “There’s a huge growth across the district (in electric vehicles) and we have 100 vehicles.
“There’s been a rapid growth and we really need to look ahead and make that facility available for the continuing growth of eco-friendly vehicles.”
The council is proposing that all of the machines, which could charge two cars at a time, would be what are known as “fast chargers” that charge a car fully in one to two hours. More rapid chargers are available but would be more expensive.
The report to the cabinet also states that the council will look to charge 30p per kilowatt after receiving external advice. The average electric car can hold 16 kilowatt.
Those using the charging station on district council car parks will also have to pay for a parking ticket to charge.
Of 43 sites in the district considered as new locations for charging units, seven have been put forward for the technology.
The three Spalding charging points are proposed to be in the district council’s car parks in Vine Street, Victoria Street and Priory Road.
The authority’s car park on Fishpond Lane would provide a charging point in Holbeach.
The units would also be at Pinchbeck Library and Community Hub, the Curlew Centre and West Street in Crowland.
In these locations the district council would have to look to reimburse parish councils for using their electricity.
Concerns were also raised over the policing of the machines owned by parish councils.
Speaking at the cabinet Coun Bryan Alcock, the ward member for Crowland, said: “There’s no car park of the sort being described in Crowland.
“While welcoming it I just hope there’s a very close dialogue with regards the problem we have in Crowland about parking.
“It’s a sensitive situation there and I implore you to liaise with the parish council.
“It’s difficult at the moment to see how the solution is going to be policed.”
Coun Chandler responded: “We can not impose that if the parish councils decide that’s not what they want.
“We believe it will encourage the use of shopping communities in those areas.
“It has to be supported by the parish councils involved.”
