On-street EV charging in Wokingham Borough to be expanded
Dozens of electric vehicle (EV) charging points are set to be installed across Wokingham borough in a bid to reduce its carbon emissions.
Wokingham Borough Council’s executive has approved a small-scale rollout of 36 on-street charging points in residential areas. Following consultations, the EV charging points will be installed in areas where off-street parking isn’t available and residents broadly support the idea.
The council will identify sites by working with the Energy Saving Trust to establish where demand is greatest using previous resident surveys, number of EV registrations and other data, including numbers of properties with no parking.
Once preferred sites are agreed, several more could be provided in ten of the authority’s car parks.
The council is due to invest £66k, a quarter of the cost, with the remainder of the funding secured through government funding.
The government’s share of funding would come from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles’ (OZEV) On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme.
The EV charging points’ effectiveness will be reviewed after 18 months and the findings will help to inform the council’s electric vehicle strategy for the future.
Councillor Gregor Murray, executive member for resident services, communications and emissions, said: “The climate emergency requires immediate action and we’ve committed to playing as full a role as possible, leading by example as well as encouragement, in achieving a net zero carbon borough by 2030.
“Electric vehicles are a crucial element in this because transport, and cars in particular, account for more than a quarter of carbon emissions so there is a clear benefit in achieving a reduction in this area.
“However, lack of off-street parking is a major hurdle for many residents who want to make the switch so we’re doing all we can to help them realise the benefits, and at no net cost to our finances.”
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen, executive member for highways and transport, said: “This is just the latest in a series of measures we’re taking to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions while keeping traffic moving on our roads.
“These also include smart traffic signals whose timings can be changed according to demand as well as electronic message signs which warn users of disruption and suggest alternatives including public transport.
“This not only fights congestion but reduces emissions by ensuring vehicles spend less time idling.”
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