Councils awarded £459,000 to install electric vehicle charging points

Councils in Gwent have been awarded £459,000 of government funding to install electric vehicle charging points in car parks across the region.

Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Torfaen and Caerphilly councils have been successful with a joint-bid for funding from the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

The money will be used to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure across 33 local authority car parks in residential areas in Gwent – installing up to 73 fast charge points.

The joint bid was put together by the Gwent authorities, aided by the Energy Saving Trust and submitted by Blaenau Gwent council.

Blaenau Gwent councillor Dai Davies, executive member for regeneration and economic development, welcomed the announcement on behalf of all the councils.

“The funding will help establish an infrastructure across Gwent to provide residents with opportunities to drive electric vehicles in the future,” Cllr Davies said.

“The councils and our key partners are committed to helping to preserve the environment by supporting renewable energy and lowering our carbon footprints.

“There are many residents in Gwent who are passionate about this too, by working with partner organisations we are delighted to be able to give them confidence to use electric vehicles now and for our future generations.”

The electric vehicle charge points will be installed in car parks near residential areas to support residents without off street parking switching to electric vehicles.

The aim is to address barriers to residential electric vehicle take-up caused by having no dedicated off street parking.

The project was also supported financially by the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) which funded a feasibility study.

Lesley Griffiths, minister for environment, energy and rural affairs, said: “It is vital we ensure no-one is left behind during the change to low carbon transport and this funding will help address barriers to residential electric vehicle.

“It will also open up the potential for community transport pooled offerings facilitated by having dedicated off street parking in the Gwent area.”

The whole project, estimated to cost around £636,000, needs to be completed by March 31, 2020, and funding can only be claimed once the charge-points are in the ground, according to a Torfaen council report.

Each council will contribute funding depending on how many electric vehicle charging point sites are proposed.

Steve Morgan, head of operations South East Wales for NRW, added:  “We are committed to working closely with our partners in this area to develop and deliver a more sustainable future for the people, places and future generations in Gwent and in Wales.”

Further details of the locations will be announced at a later date.