Members of the public have aired their worries over Sheffield City Council plans to expand the electric vehicle charging network with 11 new points set to be installed.
At a committee meeting held on Wednesday March 13, objections were raised over the potential removal of parking spaces in some areas as a result of the EV charging points.
One woman, from the Hillsborough area, who did not wish to be named, said: “Only two charge points in an area full of terraced houses really isn’t going to solve the problem of people not being able to charge at home due to no off-road parking. It’s such a tiny pebble in a huge ocean of need.”
The latest additions to the network have been selected to place facilities across the broader area where electric vehicles are known or expected to be used.
Cllr Christine Gilligan Kubo, Deputy Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, of the Hillsborough ward, said: “Upwood Road, the site of charging point installation, has very few residential homes on it and that was why it was chosen. The charging points won’t be in front of anyone’s home.”
Six new on-street locations and three car parks are to have the points installed, increasing the network by 22 bays.
Cllr Andrew Sanger, Group spokesperson for the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “We do need to make sure EV charging is available for on-street parking because of the nature of Sheffield, were not going to have parking spaces, so we need to have on-street EV as a way forward.”
By 2030, it is anticipated that between 8 million and 11 million hybrid or electric cars will be in use in the UK, with that figure expected to reach 25.5 million by 2040 if uptake is aligned with the Road to Zero targets, according to the Energy Saving Trust.
Tim Hopkinson, owner of an Electric vehicle, shared his thoughts on the charging points.
He said: “I think it’s really important to be environmentally friendly where you can. It’s better for the planet and also makes a big difference in terms of emissions.”
In the meeting, it was stated that around £9 million could potentially be allocated to support the rollout of EV charging across the city.
Beth Smith, local to the Hillsborough area, raised her concerns on the overall plans from the council. She said: “We need our councils to take action on things that matter. Charging points for cars that run on the most expensive source is not the answer, the source is peace.”
