Hinckley's electric vehicle charging spots could change to multi-use

The council will install 11 new chargers in the borough by the end of the year.

The charging points for electric vehicles in Hinckley could be changed to multi-use spots so that non-electric vehicles can park in them if no other parking is available.

The 12 charging points in Lower Bond Street and Castle (Hill Street) were installed in April 2021.

The leader of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has now said they are considering changing the purpose of the spots.

Listen to Council Leader, Councillor Stuart Bray here

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council has received funding from the Office of Low Emissions to increase the number of public charge points for electric vehicles (EVCs) in the borough with a further 11 points being installed by early December.

The points will be installed in council-run car parks in Market Bosworth (Rectory Lane), Earl Shilton (Hall Fields) and Barwell (Stanley Street).

The Market Bosworth charge points are provided in partnership with Market Bosworth Parish Council who jointly own Rectory Lane car park with the Borough Council.

Each charger will be a Pod Point 7kwh twin point that can charge two cars simultaneously and will run off the same app as the Hinckley charge points.

These locations have been chosen because they have a high number of properties in close proximity with no private parking where a home charger can be installed. 

Council Leader, Councillor Stuart Bray said: "By increasing the provision of electric vehicle charging points, we hope to provide the essential infrastructure needed to encourage more car owners in Hinckley and Bosworth to choose electric vehicles over petrol and diesel equivalents.

"The government's ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles comes in from 2030. These charge points at three key villages in the borough will help drivers make the switch to electric vehicles, particularly where they don’t have a drive or off-street parking and therefore will be reliant on the public charging network.

"Travel is one of the biggest contributors to our borough’s carbon footprint, so, as part of our response to the climate and ecological emergency, it’s vital we make the changes needed to help tackle this."