Electric charging points spreading across the district to meet Council's ambitions

By 2021 the authority expects to have 21 chargers across the district. A dozen have already been installed with nine more planned across 17 sites.

That will be in addition to 17 existing chargers at 15 different sites following Kirklees Council’s partnership arrangement with hospitals and the hotel industry.

It all forms part of the “strategic taxi and public rapid charging network” on which Kirklees is currently partnered with four neighbouring councils along with West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

The council has also pumped £2m into delivering public infrastructure and the greening of own fleet of vehicles.

Half of the cash will pay for an additional 20 rapid chargers and 20 fast chargers, which will enable the move to an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) fleet.

The authority says that will encourage residents to make the switch to electric and attract visitors “knowing they can access a network of unrestricted vehicle charge points”.

Currently in use within the council’s fleet are 20 electric cars, five electric vans and 50 hybrid cars. A further 35 electric vans are on order.

The council is exploring “alternative propulsion options” for its HGVs such as hydrogen-powered vehicles as well as electric.

All new building developments, with parking, that have applied for planning permission within Kirklees are required to have charging points for electric vehicles installed.

This practice has been standard since 2014 and is included within the Local Plan policy to ensure what is described as “green, sustainable development” within the district.

Coun Paul Davies, the council’s new Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees, said it was “absolutely committed” to delivering a network of electric vehicle charge points across the borough and to converting its fleet and equipment to ULEV equivalents.

He said: “We believe that this move and allowing access to free parking whilst charging will give residents the confidence to switch to ULEV.

“ULEV are the future and compared to petrol/diesel equivalents will greatly contribute to improvements in air quality so it’s right that we encourage as many people as we can to make the switch by offering the infrastructure needed to enable change.”