‘PEOPLE AREN’T COMING HERE AS THERE ARE NO CHARGING POINTS’
Councillors call for more electric car chargers
COUNCILLORS claim people are avoiding their town – because of a lack of charging points for electric cars.
Members of Leek Town Council say that Staffordshire Moorlands District Council is ‘way behind’ in terms of installing equipment for drivers to charge their vehicles.
It emerged during a discussion about the second phase of the district authority’s climate change policy.
The council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and part one of the policy dealt with its own assets. Now part two looks at the way it will affect people living in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
One of the targets in the plan is net zero vehicle-related emissions by 2030.
Councillor Tony Holmes said that people would not travel to Leek as there were not enough electric charging points.
He said: “Supermarkets have them but in town we do not, this needs more work.
“People will not come back again to Leek if there are no electric charging points to charge their vehicles. Why have we not got them? This needs sorting out.”
Councillor Charlotte Atkins, above, agreed, saying: “I have raised the issue of electric charging points with Staffordshire County Council.
“However, I got a frosty reception and it did not give me much optimism.
“I thought the response was appalling. People are not coming to Leek as there are no charging points on the car parks.”
Councillor Bill Cawley said:“i was instrumental in getting charging points at Morrisons in Leek. There is one small town in Scotland that has 25 charging points.” The way residents heat their homes in the future and the number of electric charging points in the district were at the centre of the debate last week.
Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Joe Porter, who has the responsibility for climate change on the council, said: “The location of electric charging points across the Moorlands is being looked at. This is about helping to save the planet, we have to work together.”
Speaking after the meeting, Moorlands Climate Action’s Mark Johnson said: “The plan is beginning to get more professional now that consultants are on board and officers are devoting more time.
“But it doesn’t have a realistic timeframe, it doesn’t have costings, and it doesn’t tell you how they are going to do the job.
“We don’t think there is a chance of getting to Net Zero on this evidence, but we have only got this to work with.
“We are committed to supporting officers in their job, and councillors who are urging SMDC to show more leadership and ambition.
“In life you’ve got to make things happen, not wait for them to happen.”