Central Bedfordshire Council goes green as electric vehicle charging points are installed

Central Bedfordshire Council is embracing electric car travel with the installation of an electric car parking charging point at their offices in Chicksands.

The electric vehicle charging posts are being installed as part of the Plugged in Places Programme, a Government scheme that funds 75% of the costs.

The charging posts are available for use by members of the public, and up until March 2013, members of the public can charge their electric car for free thanks to national funding.

The aim of the scheme is to kick-start the installation of charging points in the UK and to ensure that charging points are available within 25 miles of all local businesses and residents in the East of England.

The council has already worked with Source East, managed by EValu8 Transport Innovations Ltd, to install the point and introduce electric vehicles as part of its commitment to enhance sustainable transport. There are currently points in Central Bedfordshire for residents to access, including the Grove Theatre car park in Dunstable, West Street Multi storey Car Park in Leighton Buzzard and Marston Vale Forest Centre) .

Cllr Maurice Jones, Executive Member of Corporate Resources and Chief Executive of the council, Richard Carr, were on hand to launch the charging point.

Cllr Jones said: "This charging point is an exciting milestone in promoting the uptake of low emission vehicles as part of our plan to improve sustainable transport in Central Bedfordshire. We want our staff to travel sustainably as well as our residents and businesses and we hope this can be the first of many electric vehicle points in our office carparks."

A car charging point could also be installed shortly at the council’s Dunstable office.

You can find out more about electric vehicles and the Plugged in Places project on the EValu8 Transport website.