Power down

Your report that Edinburgh council plans to install more than 200 charging points for electric cars with a price-tag of £3.3 million must have had council tax payers spluttering into their cornflakes (Scotsman report, 2 October).

The photograph showed a sign saying “free electric vehicle charging station”. Why are we pampering those who can afford to buy an electric vehicle with free electricity when they get free parking at these points for as long as they like and have had government grants of up to £4,500 to buy their vehicle? Those who cannot afford a new car, never mind a more expensive electric vehicle, have to subsidise, via council tax and general taxation, those with money who want to flaunt green credentials. Electric vehicle owners should be charged a cost which reflects not only the electricity used but the cost of installing the charging point – they can obviously afford it.

CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow