Plan to Bring More Electric Car Charging Points to the Scarborough Borough

Electric Car charging points could be installed for public use in Scarborough Borough Car parks.

The council, is teaming up with a private firm to bid for government cash for the project which would see residents able to use the charging points overnight to power up their electric cars.

Councillor Michelle Donahue-Moncrieff - the cabinet member for the environment and sustainability - says the plan is to enable people in hard to connect homes to be able to access electric vehicle charging.

The scheme is being looked at as a way of dealing with low take up of electric vehicles in the borough, partly because many terraced homeowners find it difficult to install charging points.

Harry Baross is the borough councils Carbon reduction Officer, he says there are currently under 300 electric cars registered in the borough.

Scarborough Borough Council will partner with Connected Kerb Ltd to apply to the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme (ORCS), which offers funding opportunities towards the cost of procuring and installing charge points in council car parks, provided they are accessible around the clock.

23 car parks throughout the borough that meet the criteria have already been identified. Following today’s cabinet decision, detailed analysis of their suitability will begin, including liaison with Northern Powergrid about electricity capacity to power the charge points.

The council hopes its scheme will accelerate the transition from combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles in the borough – a key aim of its climate change strategy – so that carbon emissions and other damaging exhaust emissions that impact air quality can be reduced.

Work to prepare the ORCS grant funding application and detailed assessment of the car parks will take place between now and February.

If the funding application to the ORCS is successful, the council will work with Connected Kerb to install charge points in its car parks by mid-summer next year.

Councillor Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff said:

“When it comes to emitting carbon emissions, combustion engine vehicles are one of the biggest contributors identified in our climate change strategy.
 
“Many people would like to purchase or lease an electric vehicle, but concerns over where they will power up, especially given the high percentage of the borough’s homes that don’t have off road parking, is preventing them from making the switch.

“We hope our scheme will influence people’s decision on their next vehicle and meet the needs of those already calling on us to take action to increase the amount of charge points in the borough.”

The following sites have been identified as likely being feasible for ORCS grant funding. Sites in bold have been highlighted as priority sites by the council.

• Albion Road, Scarborough
• Bank Bottom, Runswick Bay
• Bank Top, Staithes
• Castle Road, Scarborough
• Church Street, Whitby
• Eastborough, Scarborough
• Falconers Road, Scarborough
• Friarsway, Scarborough
• Lythe Bank, Sandsend
• North Street, Scarborough
• North Terrace, Scarborough
• Northstead Lower and Upper, Scarborough
• Quay Street, Scarborough
• St Hilda’s Terrace, Whitby
• St Nicholas Parade, Scarborough
• Station Avenue, Filey
• Station Car Park, Robin Hood’s Bay
• Victoria Park, Scarborough
• Victoria Road, Scarborough
• West Cliff, Whitby
• West Pier, Scarborough
• William Street, Scarborough