A row has broken out between two parties about whether there are enough electric car charging points in Reading.
Reading Borough Council has been given £866,000 in central government cash to install 2,700 new points around the town.
The news has been welcomed by the council’s leading Labour administration, which has argued that it can make progress towards its goals of reducing carbon emissions from cars.
Councillor John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead for climate strategy and transport on Reading Borough Council, said: “A large proportion of Reading residents do not have off-street parking which means they are unable to charge electric vehicles at home and have limited alternative charging options available nearby.
“The funding will enable us to deliver up to 2,700 on-street charging points and up to 150 pavement gullies to allow cables to safely cross footways and allow on-street charging from people’s homes.
“The creation of more public charging infrastructure will help remove a barrier to the take up of electric vehicles in Reading and encourage more residents to consider making the switch to an EV.”
He continued: “In addition to a range of Council investments in quicker and more reliable public transport as an alternative to the private car, plus better pedestrian and cycling facilities, fewer petrol and diesel vehicles on the road will reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, which means a healthier town, and help achieve the Council’s ambition for Reading to be net zero carbon by 2030.”
Reading’s Green Party – the main opposition on the council – argues Labour has a history of failing to put electric charging points where people live.
Cllr Rob White (Green, Park), the leader of the opposition, said: “Take up of electric vehicles in Reading has been dramatically slowed down because of the failure of the Labour-run council to install electric charging points where people live.
“We have suggested ways this could be done like making use of money from developments, but the council chose not to do this previously.
“Green councillors are pleased that the council has secured this grant, but we would like to see the government doing more to make electric vehicles more affordable.
“And, of course, more needs to be done to improve walking, cycling and public transport.
“Greens will keep working to tackle congestion and air pollution.”
The council received the money from the Department for Transport’s Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure fund in an announcement last month.
It comes following news that the council partnered with Kerbo Charge on a trial basis to install a ‘channel’ to allow a charging cable to pass underneath pavements to allow for on-street charging.
That trial began in August last year.
