Funding for up to 75 electric vehicle plug-in
posts across Peterborough has been given the go-ahead by the
Government.
The posts are part of a regional project to
install 600 double-headed plug-in points across the East of
England. Peterborough City Council has been working closely with
the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) to develop the £7
million plan, named EValu8. This plan successfully bid for
match funding and was awarded its full £2.9 million target by the
Government.
The first recharging posts could be installed
as early as spring next year and will form a key element of the
UK's roll-out of electric vehicle recharging points. EValu8 will
provide individuals and businesses with the confidence to purchase
electric vehicles for everyday journeys both within cities, between
cities and for commuting.
The planned network will mean that any
business or resident in the East of England would be no more than
25 miles from the nearest charging post by the end of 2013, making
the whole region navigable by electric vehicles.
Councillor Marco Cereste, leader of the city
council, said: "Peterborough is a growing city which is
forecast to grow by a third in the next 15 years. As the home of
environment capital, it is essential that this growth is
sustainable.
"The council is actively seeking to reduce
carbon emissions and our emerging transport policy is already
seeking options for promoting the use of electrically-powered
bicycles, cars and buses.
"This initiative is an opportunity to drive
forward our sustainable aims and will give further impetus to our
environmental goods and services businesses."
The bid for Peterborough has been led and
managed by the city council’s transport planning team and central
funding unit. Transport planning team manager Mark Speed
said: “We are delighted that the full £7 million plan has
been approved and that we can now start work on implementing
Peterborough’s part of the infrastructure project.
"This is an exciting project that puts
Peterborough at the forefront of emerging electric vehicle
infrastructure developments, while supporting the city's reputation
as the home of environment capital."