Additional Electric Vehicle Charging Points to be installed across borough

This builds on the 12 other twin charging points located in Hinckley.

This expansion to the existing charging network will see points installed in council run car parks in Market Bosworth (Rectory Lane), Earl Shilton (Hall Fields) and Barwell (Stanley Street).

The Market Bosworth charge points are provided in partnership with Market Bosworth Parish Council who jointly own Rectory Lane car park with the Borough Council.

Each charger will be a Pod Point 7kwh twin points that can charge two cars simultaneously and will run off the same app as the Hinckley charge points making it easy for electric vehicle drivers to charge on these council owned car parks. 

The funding totalling £82,500 was secured from the Office of Low Emissions as part of the government’s commitment to increase the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in readiness for the end of the sale of new petrol and diesel cars by 2030. 

Increasing the number of electric charging points available to Hinckley and Bosworth residents and visitors is a key action in the council’s ambitious Climate Change Strategy and will be essential if the council hopes to meet the government target of becoming a carbon neutral borough by 2050.

These locations have been chosen because they have a high number of properties in close proximity with no private parking where a home charger can be installed. Therefore, these residents will have to rely on a public charging network.

Council Leader, Councillor Stuart Bray said:

By increasing the provision of electric vehicle charging points, we hope to provide the essential infrastructure needed to encourage more car owners in Hinckley and Bosworth to choose electric vehicles over petrol and diesel equivalents.

The governments ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles comes in from 2030. These charge points at three key villages in the borough will help drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly where they don’t have a drive or off-street parking and therefore will be reliant on the public charging network.

Travel is one of the biggest contributors to our borough’s carbon footprint, so, as part of our response to the climate and ecological emergency, it’s vital we make the changes needed to help tackle this.

Executive Member for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Councillor Martin Cartwright added:

Can I highlight that community groups and parishes can apply for funding for public charge points through the Parish and Community initiative Fund. Application for 2022/2022 are open until 7 January 2023. All details are available on the council website.

As part of the government funding, residents living within a short walking distance of the car parks will be eligible for permits to enable them to park for free while charging at the points. The offer aims to make it easier for residents who may not have off street parking available at home to charge a vehicle nearby in a bid to make electric vehicles more appealing in the future.

Find out more about electric vehicle charging.