Five charging points for 50 electric cars in the county

Owners of electric cars will be able to recharge their vehicles at five locations in the borough – three in Ashford and two in Tenterden.

Plans to install five double charging points across the borough by the end of March were unveiled at a meeting of Ashford Borough Council’s cabinet last week – despite the fact there are currently about 50 electric cars in the county.

They will be located in Vicarage Lane, the Civic Centre in Tannery Lane, the Julie Rose Stadium, in Willesborough Road, Tenterden Leisure Centre and Station Road, Tenterden.

Cllr Bernard Heyes, Ashford Borough Council’s portfolio holder for transportation, highways and engineering, said: “Although there are currently only a small number of owners of electric vehicles in the county, statistics suggest this will increase over the coming years so it is important for us to provide the necessary infrastructure to run, and recharge, the vehicles.”

The money to install the chargers is being provided in grant form to Kent County Council from the Department for Transport, which is keen to increase the take-up of electric cars.

Even though there are currently fewer than 50 electric vehicles registered in Kent, KCC bid for £237,000 to install 43 double charging points in the county.

Each double charging point costs about £7,500 to purchase and install.

The KCC grant will cover about £5,500 per unit and KCC will also match local authority contributions.

The remainder of the costs will be funded by the borough council from developer funding.

Cllr Heyes added: “This is a positive move forward for the council that will ultimately enhance the eco-friendly credentials of the borough, and supports other steps we are taking to reduce carbon emissions on a wider scale.”

The council is still considering a charging tariff for the parking spaces for the electric vehicles and the electricity supplied.

Ashford council will have the option to decommission points if they are not popular or financially viable.

Charge points are planned for Ashford and Tenterden