Charge ahead to make the most of EV points

As Tito and I trudged up Lower Boyndon Road towards home after a taxing half hour of squirrel chasing in Grenfell Park, we both noticed the five electric vehicle chargepoints, installed in 2021.

His focus were the residual traces of the local canine population, mine the fact that the only lead in sight was attached to his collar!

All the spaces were occupied by petrol or diesel cars.

So, why aren’t these bays, and dozens of others dotted across the Royal Borough specifically reserved for EV vehicles?

By allowing the current (I couldn’t resist it!) situation to exist RBWM is denied much needed revenue and the EV owner, to whom the bay will show as unoccupied on ZapMap, will be forced to look elsewhere.

The introduction of parking restrictions would either solve the problem or provide a replacement source of income via fixed penalty notices (better still, tow fees).

For our council to eschew any pot of gold would be reckless were they awash with money.

Given their current (I did it again!) predicament, it is tantamount to gross negligence.

They could knock together the traffic regulations in a couple of minutes, do a short public consultation and have the signs up within a couple of months. So, why don’t they?

Politics.

Just read EV06 of the EV Chargepoint Implementation Plan (2023).

It reeks of fear at losing scarce on-street, ‘open to all’ residential parking.

New funding is in place to massively expand the charging capacity infrastructure, but that £1million pounds will be mostly wasted unless the quivering jellies we elected locate a spine and err…ohh…what’s the word?

Oh yeah! Tito had it all along.

Lead.

JOHN BALDWIN

Boyn Hill Maidenhead