Car park for electric vehicle fleet approved

PLANS HAVE been approved to build a solar-powered car park to house Doncaster Council’s new fleet of electric vehicles.

The car park, which will have space for 20 vehicles, is near the council’s Civic Office in Waterdale.

The site off College Road was planned for office space but council officers said the car park plan would be a better use due to the current economy and in turn provide higher green credentials.

The planning committee voted to approve the plans but Rossington and Bawtry councillor Mick Cooper voted against it citing the loss of “valuable green space”.

Despite voting for the plans, Sprotbrough councillor Jonathan Wood said he agreed with Coun Cooper’s comments on the loss of green space.

The site is said to be used as a contractor’s compound and the wider plans will include a solar panel roof covering the area which in turn would provide electricity for charging vehicles.

The new parking location will aim to support the recent investment of over £1m in dozens of electric pool cars for use of council staff

The sale of the Council House car park required Doncaster Council to relocate its fleet of 39 pool cars and other vehicles to a new location within the town centre.

The other 19 are parked at the former Scarborough House site. The council’s Urban Design team did express concern the car park was to be built on a site identified as having the potential for offices.

But they recognised that the office market is challenging and there are other sites where new offices may be focused.

Richard Smith, head of sustainability at Doncaster Council, said: “There’s a cost saving to the council, electric vehicles use 28 per cent of the usual cost.

“It costs £300 per year for 10,000 miles travelled versus £1,100 pounds for a petrol vehicle.”