Boost to electric car charging points across Bury

Plans are underway to install many more public electric charging points across Bury to help reduce pollution and tackle climate change.

Bury currently has 24 public EV charging points, which is roughly 12 per 100,000 of the population. This is significantly below the UK average of 45 per 100,000.

The council has been in talks with suppliers willing to invest in public charging points. It could mean that 30 chargers, including fast, rapid and ultra-rapid, could be installed.

Councillor Alan Quinn, cabinet member for the environment, climate change and operations, said: “We need to encourage residents and visitors to make the transition from petrol and diesel vehicles to low emission vehicles such as electric ones.

“One of the main reasons that people give for not buying an electric car is the lack of charging stations, which is a particular issue for drivers who do not have off-street parking at their homes.”

The council has drawn up a list of possible locations for public EV chargers, as follows:

• Ripon Close, Unsworth
• Scholes Walk, Prestwich
• Gingham Park, Radcliffe
• Spinney Drive, Moorside
• Moyse Avenue, Tottington
• Shakespeare Avenue, Radcliffe
• Kay Street Car Park, Moorside
• Bannerman Avenue, Prestwich
• Cross Street Car Park, Radcliffe
• The Market Car Park, Bury Market
• Ruby Street, Summerseat
• Burrs Country Park, Elton
• Parsons Lane Car Park, Bury Town Centre
• Masefield Avenue, Radcliffe
• Orpington Drive, Bury
• Lomond Drive Car Park, Elton
• Irwell Street Car Park, Radcliffe
• George Street Car Park, Prestwich
• Clifton Road Car Park, Prestwich
• Upper Wilton Street Car Park, Heaton Park
• Station Car Park, Railway Street, Ramsbottom

The proposals are due to be considered by the council’s cabinet next Wednesday (13 July).

If the cabinet approves the plan, there will be an 8-week consultation period starting on 18 July. Some of the sites are in residential areas and require greater engagement with local residents, for example with a letter drop. This will happen after the consultation, once a supplier has been appointed but before any works at these locations are carried out.

In the meantime, there is a website where residents can suggest suitable sites for EV chargers or vote for locations that have already been identified. This is provided by TfGM at the “Suggest a charging point location” part of their website.