Electric way to save energy

The town council is investigating schemes in which drivers could plug their vehicles in while shopping or having lunch in the centre.

It could attract more visitors to the town.

There are electric charging points in some supermarket car parks in Shropshire and Church Stretton led the way in promoting green energy installing its system three years ago thanks to a project involving Strettton Climate Care, Shropshire Council, Church Stretton Town Council and the Midcounties Co-operative store at Lion Meadow in the town centre.

Last year Councillor Paul Milner put forward a motion calling for electric charging points on Oswestry's Centre car park, run by the town council.

He said: "This would not only help make life easier for residents living in the area but it may also attraction more visitors to our down due to the very small number of places that provide this service within Oswestry and surrounding areas."

In a report to Oswestry town council's meeting on Wednesday, deputy town clerk, Arren Roberts, said the electric charging point network and market was complex.

With a choice of slow, fast or rapid charging it seemed a fast charge would be the most appropriate option for a car park, he said.

"It would encourage visitors to come to Oswestry, offering a relatively quick charge and hopefully encouraging them to stay for a couple of hours."

He said the council had to consider who the target audience was, whether to connect an EV charging point to a network and whether or not to charge drivers.

It also had to decide whether to be a direct provider or a host, which would mean a private company leasing the land - car parking bays - from the town council.

Mr Roberts said one company spoken too would offer a 30 minute plug in.

"This would provide about 150 miles of driving and cost the customer £8.40. The electricity supply would be paid for by the company and they collect all the revenue."

If the council was the direct provider it would install a pay as you go unit, set the tarrif, collect the income and pay the bills.

Mr Roberts said Shropshire Council was developing its strategy and thinking around renewable energy but had not confirmed plans for introducing EV charging points in its car parks.

Last month councillors debated whether to help set up a community alternative energy scheme which would see solar plans put on public buildings.