Resident reports council ‘blocking’ home EV charging

A pensioner states he has been “blocked” by his local council from charging his electric car (EV) outside his residence. David Kelsall, a resident of Hathershaw, Oldham, reported that he had been appealing to Oldham Council for six months for permission to charge his vehicle on the street in front of his home. The retired car mechanic expressed feeling unsafe using his nearest public charger, located three miles (4.8km) from his home, due to a heart condition and anti-social behaviour in the vicinity. The council indicated that running cables across pavements could present a “trip hazard” and that it was “still waiting for guidance” regarding the approval of on-street charging. Mr. Kelsall, who lacks access to off-street parking, described the issue as driving him “crazy” and negatively impacting his health. Transport for the North recently identified the region’s comparative lack of driveways (53% compared to 40% nationwide) as a significant impediment to EV ownership. Despite concerns about the government’s “phase out” strategy to prohibit the sale of petrol vehicles by 2035 (a deadline previously set for 2030) and the extent of air pollution in Greater Manchester, Mr. Kelsall proceeded with purchasing an EV, fearing he would get “caught out”. Mr. Kelsall formally requested permission from Oldham Council to charge his car on the street. Correspondence reviewed by the Local Democracy Reporting Service revealed that council officers cited “trip hazards” as the basis for denying the request, even though the proposed design was integrated into the pavement. Councillor Chris Goodwin stated: “We are still waiting for guidance to be published and in the meantime are working with Transport for Greater Manchester to develop a regional approach.” He further mentioned that pilot programs in other locations demonstrated that cables placed in “pavement channels” could be “dangerous” for pedestrians, particularly those with impaired vision or mobility challenges. Other local authorities, such as Milton Keynes and Bolton, are conducting trials of their own on-street parking initiatives, which incorporate designs embedded in ridges across the pavement. Industry specialists anticipate that the government will unveil proposals to increase investment in EV infrastructure and adjust company car tax during the forthcoming budget announcement on 30 October. For more content, listeners can access the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story ideas can also be submitted to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding its approach to external linking is available.