Braintree District Council has announced 16 new dual electric charging points will be installed in four locations to meet its climate emergency objectives.
At a meeting of its full council on Monday (February 22), Cllr Wendy Schmitt, cabinet member for environment and place, announced the council has been successful in bidding for funding towards the charging points from The Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
The £129,000 funding will mean new charging points will soon be up and running at three locations in the town of Witham. It will also see a charging point installed at Braintree train station.
The points join the established charging network already owned by the council located at a number of leisure centres and local authority owned car parks.
The investment underpins actions identified through the council’s draft Climate Change Strategy. Braintree District Council also declared a Climate Change Emergency in July 2019 and announced a target to be carbon neutral as a council as far as practical by 2030 – and support local businesses in the transition to net-zero.
The district has already welcomed GRIDSERVE in December 2020 when it opened the UK’s first Electric Forecourt in Braintree, offeringresidents and businesses a great foundation when it comes to electric vehicle charging.
Schmitt said: “Electric vehicle infrastructure is so important to give residents the confidence to make sustainable transport choices as we all work towards reducing emissions. Our district has a growing electric vehicle charging network which we will continue to improve.
“Our approved budget is one in which half a million pounds has been earmarked for future climate change initiatives such as this. Bouncing back greener from this pandemic is something which is important to us and our community.”
- image courtesy of Shutterstock
