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Electric Cars: Council Makes Isle Of Wight Charging Point Pledge

Concerns over a lack of electric vehicle charging points across the Isle of Wight has led to a council pledge to install more.

The local authority says plans are in place to have points at a further ten residential on-street locations, and it's "just the beginning".

A council spokesperson could not say where the ten new points would be, but did say they would be rolled out in the next few months.

It comes on the day a landmark study found human activity is changing the climate in unprecedented and sometimes irreversible ways.

Scientists say a catastrophe can be avoided if the world acts fast.

Funding for the Island's new charging stations is being provided by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.


Electric charging point installed outside Bembridge Parish Council in August 2020

There are currently 19 accessible points across the Isle of Wight, five of which are in council-owned car parks.

Cabinet member for transport and infrastructure, Councillor Phil Jordan, said he's "encouraged" by proposals.

He said:

"I'm delighted and encouraged by the plans to install electric vehicle charging points in ten places around the Island and know that the sites have been well researched and investigated to provide maximum benefit for electric vehicle owners.

"But this is just the beginning. As the sale of electric vehicles increase exponentially, year on year, we have to strive to ensure we have the infrastructure in place to support the potential demand and play our part in the future trend in vehicle ownership and carbon reduction goals.

"Our current work is engaging with providers and private provider companies to develop an infrastructure on electric vehicle charging points that encourages and assists the move towards wide electric vehicle ownership."

Points already installed on the Island, include:

  • Asda, Newport x2
  • Ryde Pier Head
  • Wightlink Fishbourne Terminal
  • Co-op, Freshwater 
  • Bembridge Parish Council, Foreland Road
  • Moa Place Car Park, Freshwater
  • Ventnor Botanic Gardens
  • St John's Road car park, Sandown
  • Cross Street car park, Ryde
  • Chapel Street car park, Ryde
  • Quay Road car park, Ryde
  • Cross Street car park, Cowes
  • St John's Road car park, Sandown x2
  • Busy Bee, Ryde
  • Alverstone Garden Village
  • Whitecross Business Centre, Shanklin
  • Staddlestones Nissan, Brading Road, Ryde

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