No progress made on EV charge points
Despite the Council having secured over £1 million of funding from the Government to install electric vehicle charging points, not a single one has been installed in three years.
At Full Council on Wednesday 18th March, Cllr Leigh Coombs (Shortstown) asked how many LEVI‑funded EV chargers have been installed so far, and where they are located.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed that no charge points have been installed. The Council is still in the process of finalising the contract with the preferred supplier.
Cllr Coombs commented,
“EV infrastructure desperately needs improving, particularly for those residents who do not have their own off- street parking. I am extremely disappointed to hear that no chargers have been installed despite a handsome sum of money being handed to the Council more than a year ago.
This wasn’t always the case: under Mayor Dave Hodgson, Bedford Borough was a leader in installation of electric charge points, even without Government grants. We had double the East of England average for charge points per 100,000 people in 2021.
What a crying shame that we are now falling behind. Residents deserve speedy action on this so that they can make the switch to electric vehicles with confidence.”
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