Paisley Daily Express

Charging points for electric cars to be installed in Renfrewshi­re

Work to start in Paisley and Renfrew

- STEPH BRAWN LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

More charging points for electric vehicles are to be installed across Renfrewshi­re as part of the council’s campaign to tackle climate change.

Plans have been announced to place units at Falcon Crescent and Glenburn Community Centre in Paisley alongside Kirklandne­uk Community Centre in Renfrew, with work set to start on Monday.

It is anticipate­d the charging points will be ready for use by August.

Paisley Northwest councillor Kenny MacLaren said he was delighted to see efforts being made to accommodat­e electric vehicles right across the region, including outside of town centres.

“It’s good to see more electric vehicle charging points being installed across Renfrewshi­re,” said Councillor MacLaren.

“If we are serious about tackling climate change, we need to provide more alternativ­es to petrol and diesel vehicles. These new charging points will help those who want to switch over to driving electric vehicles.

“It’s great to see these charging points in local communitie­s across Renfrewshi­re rather than just being installed in town centres.

“By spreading the charging points across our communitie­s, Renfrewshi­re will boost the options of those who are looking at driving electric vehicles.”

The council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and is aiming to make Renfrewshi­re carbon- neutral by 2030.

This is a much more ambitious time-scale than that of the Scottish Government, which has set a target of 2045.

This latest green move comes after the council announced a quarter of a million-pound investment in electric vehicles, a new standard for ‘zero carbon’ social housing, and the restoratio­n of peatlands earlier this year as part of its £1million Climate Change Action Fund.

The cash pot will boost new and existing initiative­s and support partnershi­p working across Renfrewshi­re to make the region more environmen­tally friendly.

To accelerate work in replacing diesel vehicles in the council’s fleet, £258,000 will be splashed on several electric light commercial vans.

Meanwhile, a feasibilit­y study will be launched into the restoratio­n of peatbogs which would bring more carbon storage, enhanced biodiversi­ty, and improved flood retention.

The social housing project will bring together resources from academia and industry to develop best practice and design principles around a sustainabl­e model that can be delivered as a standard at scale over the coming decade.

 ??  ?? Welcomed Councillor Kenny MacLaren (inset) praised the new charging points to be installed across Paisley, including at Glenburn Community Centre (below)
Welcomed Councillor Kenny MacLaren (inset) praised the new charging points to be installed across Paisley, including at Glenburn Community Centre (below)

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom