Spalding sees work to install electric vehicle charging points at its car parks
Moves to make driving in South Holland "cleaner, greener and safer" are under way with work to install electric vehicle charging points in the area.
Engineers started laying underground cabling in Spalding's Victoria Street, Vine Street and Priory Road car parks during the week.
The charging points for so-called pure-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are expected to go live by the end of the year, with further stations in Crowland, Holbeach, Pinchbeck and Sutton Bridge due to be installed next year.
Plans to provide charging points in the area were first made public by South Holland District Council in a column for our sister newspaper, the Spalding Guardian, in October 2018.
Former deputy council leader Malcolm Chandler said: "The Government has started taking major steps towards tackling the health issues and global problems being caused by increasingly poor air quality across the country, especially in towns and cities.
"A 'Road to Zero' plan will mean that half of all new car sales in the UK will be hybrid or electric by 2030, with an extra goal of ending the sales of 'conventional' petrol and diesel cars and vans by 2040."
A district council report published in January this year showed that electric vehicle ownership in South Holland went up more than fivefold between 2014 and 2018, from just 16 to 100.
The report said: "South Holland has five charging points at four different locations within the district, but these are currently located at private businesses in Spalding and Long Sutton.
"The only public charging points in the district are located at Springfields Outlet Shopping and Leisure, as well as the offices of Canebuzo (Carbon Neutral Business Zone) in Long Sutton.
"A continual growth of electric vehicles in the district means that the council needs to respond to growing and changing demand to its car parks.
"The usage of charging stations throughout the district would demonstrate the council's commitment to work together with partners and local communities to improve the quality of public spaces to be cleaner, greener and safer."
Coun Anthony Casson, the council's portfolio holder for public protection, said: "We are taking numerous steps towards having a positive environmental impact and an ongoing commitment to investing in our town centres and car parks.
"The installation of these electric vehicle charging points district-wide is just one example of the great progress we are making in these areas.
“It is important that we are responsive to the growing and changing demands and needs of our residents, including offering them a comprehensive provision for electric vehicles.
"When the charging points go live they will be invaluable for existing owners, promoting ownership among our residents, while also making our towns and villages a more attractive proposition for potential visitors."
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