DENBIGHSHIRE County Council has secured grant funding from the UK Government to support the delivery of an electric vehicle public charging pilot.

The scheme, courtesy of a £57,400 grant funding from the government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles supported by the Energy Saving Trust, will provide fast charging points in eight public car parks across Denbighshire for use by the public.

The eight locations are as follows:

• Morley Road car park, Rhyl (2 x 22 kilowatt (KW) alternating current (AC) charge points - ability to charge four vehicles)

• Fern Avenue car park, Prestatyn (2 x 7 kW AC – ability to charge four vehicles)

• Bowling Green car park, St Asaph (1 x 22 kW AC - ability to charge two vehicles)

• Factory Ward car park, Denbigh (2 x 22 kilowatt kW AC - ability to charge four vehicles)

• Market Street car park, Llangollen (2 x 22 kW AC - ability to charge four vehicles)

• Pavilion car park, Llangollen (2 x 22 kW AC - ability to charge four vehicles)

• Cae Ddol car park, Ruthin (2 x 7 kW AC - ability to charge four vehicles)

• Craft Centre car park, Ruthin (2 x 22 kW AC - ability to charge four vehicles)

Locations have been selected using a range of criteria, including location and accessibility, and include a mixture of key routes and car parks close to residential properties without access to off-road parking.

The aim is to open up possibilities for people to transition to an electric vehicle where they didn’t previously have access to a charging facility.

The project is part of the council’s action to tackle climate change, following the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency in 2019 and adoption of the Climate and Ecological Change Strategy in 2021.

Other electric vehicle initiatives are involved in the council’s goal to meet the target of a net carbon zero council by 2030.

Projects currently under development include expanding the council’s Electric Vehicle Charging infrastructure and increasing the number of electric vehicles in its fleet to deliver council services.

The council is also delivering a pilot project to encourage taxi companies to transition to the use of electric vehicles after securing funding from Welsh Government.

Procurement for the charging points will take place in the autumn, with the intention for them to be installed and operational by spring 2022.

Councillor Brian Jones, the council’s lead member for waste, transport and the environment, said: “It is fantastic for the council to be part of such an important project which plays a vital part within our aim to tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

“Electric vehicles are a big part of our future so this is an important step for the county.

“They will create healthier surroundings and provide convenience for those community members and visitors who choose to use an electric vehicle.

“These charging points will provide a real advantage to the whole of Denbighshire, but we also hope that some of these locations will be of particular benefit to nearby households with no off-road charging facilities.

“They will also provide useful data to inform potential future expansion analysis of the electric vehicle charging network here in Denbighshire.”

The electric vehicle charging points will be located on two Denbighshire Leisure sites, including Llangollen Pavilion and Ruthin Craft Centre.

Jamie Groves, managing director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “As a company, we are committed to improving the environment for our residents, which contributes to better health and wellbeing.

“We are delighted to be supporting the council and the Welsh Government in tackling the climate and ecological emergency declared in 2019, and beyond this project, we will continue to work with the council on a number of projects towards their climate change agenda.”

For more information about the council’s wider climate and ecological change strategy, visit: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/environmental-health/climate-and-ecological-change/climate-and-ecological-change.aspx.