Belfast City Council is to look at a new electric vehicle charging point strategy across the city, after an elected representative criticised the existing structure.
Alliance Councillor Michael Long said at the council’s recent meeting of its Strategic Policy and Resources Committee that a bad infrastructure for charging in the city would damage its commitments to phasing out fossil fuel burning vehicles and damage tourism.
He told the chamber: “As someone who has recently purchased an electric vehicle, I would have to say that the level of provision in the city is really very poor. And one of the issues I want to raise in particular is council provision of electric vehicle charging points for our facilities.
Read more: Belfast Council workers to get two weeks bereavement leave on full pay
“I know at City Hall we took the decision to have the Lord Mayor’s car as an electric charged vehicle, but there are apparently no other points for electric charging within the grounds of City Hall that are active.
“We need to have an extension of our electric vehicle charging points across the city, across our leisure centres. We have a facility at Lisnasharragh at the minute, but we need to be looking at developing a much better strategy to encourage our staff and users to transfer to electric vehicles.
“Most of those who I have spoken to who have decided they don’t want to go down the route of electric vehicles, it is because the infrastructure is so poor. The infrastructure in terms of advertised spaces is very poor.
“I think people coming to visit Belfast would really struggle to find places to charge a car, which defeats the purpose. There is also an inconsistency in terms of the level of types of charging - while there is some standardised usage, they all use different apps - these are issues as well.”
Councillor Long asked for the committee to commission a report to look at the expansion of charge points at City Hall and council facilities across the city, with additional consultation with the Stormont Infrastructure department on how to create a new strategy encouraging the use of electric vehicles in the city.
He said: “The reality is by 2030 we are not supposed to be using these other vehicles, so it is important we actually look at how we develop a strategy.”
Council Chief Executive John Walsh said: “We are actively looking at some of these issues now, but I am happy to bring back a paper, and if Councillor Long needs to borrow an extension lead, I am happy to provide that also.”
READ NEXT:
-
Ormeau residents victory as council rejects 1am license for new £8m hotel on site of church
-
Belfast City Council looks into big investment plan for city parks
-
Belfast Bright Lights festival cancelled after public outcry
- Belfast Council warned of "crisis of confidence" in cleansing services as city labelled "dirty"
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
