Electric car charging points could be on the way in Teignbridge.

The overview and scrutiny committee recommended backing plans at Tuesday’s meeting to install four electric car charging points, as part of the electric vehicles, infrastructure and ultra low emission vehicles policy. The charging points will be installed in council car parks in or close to the council’s local air quality management.

If approved by the council the charging points will be installed in public car parks with a parking space being dedicated to each individual charging point. The proposed sites for charging points are: Cricketfield car park, Newton Abbot; Barton Road car park, Dawlish; Quay Road car park, Teignmouth and the car park at Forde House, Newton Abbot. However, the proposed sites could change.

‘We haven’t decided on the all the details yet’ said Cllr Jackie Hook. ‘We want to encourage people to switch to electric whilst making it fair to other motorists.’

Cllr Stephen Purser queried whether the plugs and power banks would be universal and successfully called for an amendment to ensure that there that there is universality in the charging facilities for electric vehicles.

Strategy part of council’s pledge

to be carbon neutral by 2025

Not everyone was convinced of the benefits of electric car charging. Cllr Liam Mullone was sceptical about the environmental benefits of electric cars and raised concerns about the impact of their production, especially the batteries. Cllr Mullone called for a delay to obtain more information.

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst, portfolio holder for waste management and environmental health replied, insisting that this was merely the first step towards more electric vehicles on the roads and that changes could be made further down the line.

‘The car industry thinks the future for them lies in electric vehicles and the batteries can be reused for residential solar panels’ said Cllr Dewhurst.

Cllr Sarah Parker-Khan was quick to volunteer her ward for the location of one of the charging points: ‘We would love Ashburton or Buckfastleigh to be considered.’

In a report presented to the overview and scrutiny committee, Devon County Council indicated its broad support for the scheme, describing the idea as a ‘great initiative.’

The report said: ‘Devon County Council are keen that all new public car parks including any new commercial public car parks have some sort of level of electric charging provision.’

‘The wider public engagement received a number of responses from town and parish councils.

‘Those who responded were keen and in general want an acceleration of installation of electric vehicle charging point.’

The push for electric vehicles is part of Teignbridge Council’s climate emergency pledge to be carbon neutral by 2025.

The overview and scrutiny committee voted to approve the policy with the amendment from Cllr Purser to ensure that most electric cars would be able to use the charging facilities.ORDER YOUR DIGITAL EDITION HERE