EV charging points approved for 20 car parks

At least 20 car parks in the Kirklees district will be fitted with new electric vehicle charging points after plans were given the go-ahead by the council.

The points would be located at council-run car parks, aimed at residents with no off-road parking, the authority said.

The £2.5m project was being funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) and was the first phase in improving infrastructure for electric vehicles across the region, a spokesperson said.

Councillor Moses Crook, the council's deputy leader and cabinet member for transport and highways, said: "These new chargers mean that if someone wants to make the switch to an electric vehicle, it will be a more practical option."

Installation of the charging points was expected to begin later this year, the council said.

Meanwhile further expansion into on-street locations was planned for later phases of the scheme.

Crook said the pilot scheme was "a critical step in making electric vehicles more accessible".

"We know many households without off-street parking are currently limited if they have an electric vehicle," he added.

The initiative was also part of the local authority's plan to become net zero and "climate ready" by 2038, a spokesperson said.

Councillors had previously heard that chargers would need to be installed in three priority locations before the others could be put in.

These were on Spring Wood Street in Huddersfield, New Street Car Park in Honley and Shaw Cross Community Centre in Dewsbury.

EV points would then be installed in Batley, Birstall, Dewsbury, Holmfirth, Huddersfield, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Netherton, Denby Dale, Cowersley, Skelmanthorpe, Emley, Liversedge and Moldgreen.

The council said although it did not intend to charge for the use of parking bays while charging, the authority or EV leaseholders may eventually decide to introduce a payment or require a permit for the bays in future.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.