A HELENSBURGH and Lomond councillor has urged the local authority to make provision for more electric car charging points in the area in its new local development plan.
Lomond North councillor George Freeman says he would like to see a stipulation that at least one charging point is provided at every new residential property – and is seeking information from the council on whether it intends to install more of the facilities in the area.
Councillor Freeman is a member of the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee, which recently recommended charging points at a proposed new multi-storey car park at Faslane as part of the expansion of HM Naval Base Clyde.
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He has also stated that more and more of his constituents are calling for additional charging points to be installed in the area.
Cllr Freeman said: “As the new Local Development Plan (LDP) progresses, and given all the environmental and global warming issues that continue to be of major concern locally and globally, we see governments now starting to introduce polices to phase out petrol and diesel powered vehicles with a move to encourage a move to electric powered vehicles.
“Unfortunately, from the feedback I receive from constituents, we still see a shortage of electric car charging points, which is a clear disincentive for many car owners to move to electric powered vehicles.
“During a recent pre-application consultation with the PPSL committee on the proposed new multi-storey car park planned at HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane, one of the recommendations that members agreed was that the developer should consider including electric car charging points within the new facility.
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“Given the clear move towards electric powered vehicles, can I suggest that a policy be included within the new LDP for electric car charging points to be included in all new residential developments and other developments where such facilities could be considered to be appropriate?
“As a minimum, I believe that there should be at least one such charging point included in each new residential property – although the policy could consider more than one based on a number of factors such as the size of the development.”
An Argyll and Bute Council spokesperson said: “The Local Development Plan 2 is due for adoption in 2020 and a report is due to go to a meeting of the full council in the near future.”
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