THIRTY electric vehicle charging points could be located in Dartmouth’s Old Market car park, helping to cut carbon emissions and bring in thousands of pounds of revenue for the town.

At this month’s full Dartmouth Town Council meeting councillors heard a proposal from Connected Kerb, which provides infrastructure for charging electric vehicles (EV) for local authorities across the UK, including Plymouth City Council.

In The Guildhall meeting Cllr Ged Yardy and Ashleigh Braund, of Connected Kerb via Zoom, presented the proposal.

Cllr Yardy said: “Many councils have declared a climate crisis. There’s a need to explore how we can lessen our impact on the environment and increase electric vehicle charging in Dartmouth, encouraging businesses and people to purchase electric vehicles.

“There’s a need for electric vehicle parking infrastructure as government laws come in to reduce dependency on diesel and petrol vehicles.”

South Hams Council has plans to install six electric charging points between the park and ride at the top of town and Mayor’s Avenue. Cllr Yardy said there’s a possibility for more from South Hams, but no commitment from them at this time, which is why the town council contacted Connected Kerb for a proposal.

The only parking area the town council has complete control over is Old Market, and the proposal is for 30 charging points in the car park, which could be opened up gradually as the need arises. The project would attract OLEV government grants for 75 per cent of costs and the remaining outlay, according to Connected Kerb, could be recovered within two to three years through charging costs, thereafter generating an impressive income for the town council.

There are three pricing options for the town council to fund the remaining 25 per cent - £22,000 and the council receives all £113,370 income from ten years of projected charging; £11,000 and it receives half the income; or installed for free and it receives none of the income.

Cllr Yardy said there was a need to act soon because the government intends to ban diesel and petrol vehicles by 2030 and government grants currently available will not be in place forever.

Cllr Cathy Campos said: “I’m very much in favour of this and think we should speculate to accumulate and go with option A to fund the 25 per cent. We need to take the lead, six EV points in the whole of Dartmouth from South Hams Council is not enough.”

Cllr Nathan Bodinnar asked if the metal poles for charging points would interfere with markets and festivals held in the car park.

Ashleigh Braund, of Connected Kerb, replied that the points were designed to be discreet in heritage and cultural locations and that most of the infrastructure is underground and in keeping with local architecture.

“Above ground, it’s a small pole. No more intrusive than a parking post,” she added.

Cllr Martin McGowan-Scanlon asked: “What is the uptake in Dartmouth? It’s asking us to sign up for a ten-year plan when five years down the line more people could be buying these and prices may be more competitive with more companies on board. I don’t believe now is the time.”

Cllr Yardy replied: “People in Dartmouth won’t buy an electric vehicle unless there are sufficient charging points. The chicken and egg position is that unless you put in infrastructure people won’t buy the vehicles.”

Deputy Mayor Graham Evans said that before agreeing to any of the proposals he’d want to see how the council will manage the Old Market Car Park, and if the points would take away places from diesel and petrol cars.

Councillors agreed to ask for further breakdowns of cost and profits from Connected Kerb, and to seek consultation from the public before moving forward.

After the meeting Cllr Yardy said: “Climate change is here. Our actions need to match our words. Electric vehicle charging is becoming accepted as mainstream to reach decarbonisation goals. It must be affordable, convenient and accessible.

“EV charging in Dartmouth can be introduced gradually around the needs of local and visitors alike. This means investing in the charging points and in the first year operating a limited number of EV charging points, learning about changing demand and habits throughout the year and incentivising us to use them.”