Boroughbridge filling station set to get EV boostElectric vehicle home charging help to be discussedBusiness Q&A: Kit Lacey, eDub ServicesHarrogate to host three-day electric vehicles event

Harrogate is to host a three-day event promoting electric vehicles and green energy next month.

Everything Electric North will take place from May 24 to 26 at the Yorkshire Event Centre at the Great Yorkshire Showground.

The event aims to encourage greater use of electric cars.

According to North Yorkshire Council. there are currently 133 electric vehicle charging units in Harrogate, 74 of which are in the town itself.

Expert panels will debate whether electric vehicle charging at work and destinations should be standard practice and whether you really need a driveway to own an electric car.

Last year’s Everything Electric North event in Harrogate.

North Yorkshire Council’s electric vehicle infrastructure officer will feature on the panel.

The council’s electric vehicle infrastructure rollout strategy is part of the North Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

Barrie Mason, the council’s assistant director for highways and transport, said:

“More and more people are turning to electric vehicles as ways of driving down the cost of motoring and helping the environment and North Yorkshire is no exception.

“Harrogate, in particular, has shown a steady month-on-month increase in the number of charging sessions since the EV infrastructure became live at the beginning of last year.

“Our aim is to encourage more people to make the move to electric vehicles and our infrastructure rollout is an important part of convincing people across the county that there is a dependable, viable alternative to petrol and diesel.”

According to the council, in 2023 there were almost 11,000 charging sessions recorded, with a further 3,520 up to the end of February.

This means that 340,770 miles were travelled by electric vehicles which used these facilities last year, with a further 123,475 miles covered up to the end of last month.  In total, this has saved more than 175 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

This is the second consecutive year that Everything Electric North will be held at the Yorkshire Event Centre, and its 15th exhibition around the world.

Event chief executive Dan Caesar said:

“The venue and location received a huge thumbs-up from our audience.

“We display electric vehicles of all shapes and sizes from micro-mobility options like bikes and boards, up to trucks and tractors, but the centrepiece is an array of hundreds of electric cars and thousands of test drives.”

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Electric vehicle charging points go live in Ripon

Six electric vehicle charging points are now in operation at the North Yorkshire Council controlled Cathedral Car Park in Ripon.

They add to a number of other locations across the city where drivers can re-charge their batteries. They include Blossomgate Car Park, Booth’s Supermarket at Marshall Way Retail Park, the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre on Dallamires Lane, M & S Food at Rotary Way, Morrisons Supermarket on Harrogate Road and Phoenix Business Centre at Low Mill Road.

North Yorkshire Council’s executive agreed a new county-wide strategy for electric charging points this year.

The strategy showed there are almost 4,000 electric vehicles registered in North Yorkshire but just 225 publicly available charge points.

It is forecast that 3,161 charge points need to be installed and just under half of these need to be funded by the public sector at a cost of approximately £10.3 million. It is expected that at least half of the publicly funded chargers (724) will need to be ready by 2025 to meet demand.

The council has secured £3.2 million from the national Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) pilot scheme to install 150 charging points across the county.

They are being installed alongside battery storage units, charged by solar panels.

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Any vehicle can park in Knaresborough electric vehicle bays, says council

Petrol and diesel cars can currently park in electric vehicle charging bays in Knaresborough’s Chapel Street car park, North Yorkshire Council has confirmed.

The Stray Ferret submitted a freedom of information request to the council amid confusion about the status of the 10 bays, which appeared in the town centre car park shortly before Christmas last year.

The bays are frequently empty while non-electric vehicle drivers struggle to park in Chapel Street car park, particularly on Wednesday market days and at weekends.

This has infuriated some traders, who claim it is costing them money, and they have been unable to determine the precise rules surrounding the bays.

A petition this year called for some of the bays to be made available to all vehicles until more electric cars used them.

Traders Steve and Kelly Teggin launching the petition.

We asked the council what consultation it held on having the bays in Chapel Street car park, whether it was legal for non-electric vehicles to park in the bays and how many vehicles had received parking tickets for using the bays.

The council replied it hadn’t carried out any consultation and added:

“At present it is not illegal for a non-electric vehicle to park in an electric vehicle bay in Chapel Street car park (this is not the case for all electric vehicle car park bays in the Harrogate borough).

“There is currently no Traffic Regulation Order for electric vehicle charging in Chapel Street.

“Any vehicle can park in the electric vehicle bays at Chapel Street and will not receive a penalty charge notice as long as the user has paid the fee to park in the car park; in Chapel Street you must pay to park between 8am and 6pm.”

The response also said electric vehicles would not be fined just for parking in the bays “as long as the user has paid the fee to park in the car park”.

The council agreed to pay £280,000 to the company Connected Kerb in March 2022 to install electric vehicle charging bays across the county.

It is currently conducting an internal review into off street car parking orders across North Yorkshire, which it said will “enable us to align definitions for electric vehicle charging across the county”.

This would enable it to fine petrol and diesel vehicle owners parked in an electric vehicle bays, as well as electric vehicles drivers that use the bays for parking rather than charging.

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Cllr Matt Walker, a Liberal Democrat who represents Knaresborough West on North Yorkshire Council, said he supported electric vehicle charging to reduce pollution but “charging point installation has been poorly implemented in Knaresborough due to inadequate engagement and communication with local residents, business, visitors and the town council”.

The decision to install slow charging bays in a busy town centre car park has proved particularly contentious.

Cllr Walker was part of the council’s Harrogate and Knaresborough area constituency committee that recommended the Conservative-controlled executive conduct a full review of all parking in Knaresborough within the next six months to ensure spaces, pricing and locations are in line with the needs of the town for both residents and visitors.

The committee also recommended the council develop a strategy for EV charging that is supported by residents and  introducing a park and ride scheme that links the York Place long stay car park and the town centre.

Knaresborough survey calls for phased introduction of electric vehicle chargers

Knaresborough people support electric vehicle chargers but feel they should have been introduced in a more phased manner, a survey has revealed.

The survey showed concern about North Yorkshire Council‘s decision to install slow charging bays in town centre car parks that already struggled to cope with traffic on weekends and market days.

Business group Knaresborough & District Chamber conducted the survey amid particular concerns about the nine electric vehicle bays and one electric vehicle car-share space in the town centre Chapel Street Car Park.

The sight of petrol and diesel cars struggling to park there while most of the electric vehicle bays are empty has enraged some traders, who say they are losing business as customers give up and go elsewhere.

The survey, which was completed by 81 people including 30 local business owners, revealed about seven out of 10 supported the call for the council to renegotiate the contract, perhaps by phasing-in or sharing the spaces between electric vehicles and other vehicles.

It is believed the council is unwilling to enter talks with the private company that provided the charging infrastructure as it could jeopardise the contract across the county.

A chamber press release said:

“Respondents to the survey believe that Chapel Street was the wrong place to install chargers, particularly as they are of the slow charge type, and that York Place Car Park, which we believe was originally preferred by the council, should have been used.

It added “local opinion is not against the need for electric vehicle charging, in fact many recognise the need, welcome it and want Knaresborough to be seen as a leading venue for sustainable transport, including visiting by train”.

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Twice as many businesses said they had had customers complain to them about the lack of parking places when EV spaces were free compared to those who had not heard such comments.

The survey also highlighted concerns about poor engagement, lack of information and lack of adequate signposting to car parks across the town .

One survey respondent said:

“These spaces cropped up overnight and whilst used by electric cars they are not always on charge.  There is limited parking in town and this initiative has seen congestion within Chapel Street as people strive to park with electric vehicle spaces either empty or misused.”

Steve Teggin and Kelly Teggin began the petition.

A 600-signature petition, instigated by local traders Kelly Teggin and Steve Teggin, calling for some parking spaces to be reallocated is due to be discussed by the council’s area constituency committee on September 14.

Chamber executive member Peter Lacey said:

“We’re pleased to have been able to highlight broader issues that the installation of the EV charging points has raised and are keen to engage constructively with other partners in the town and with North Yorkshire Council to improve the ways in which people can access our fantastic retail and recreational offer both in the town centre and at Conyngham Hall public car park where 14 spaces continue to be blocked due to grid connection issues.

“Access to the town by car will always be critical, particularly for more vulnerable groups, and we certainly want to encourage the adoption of EVs, but this needs to be part of a strategy that improves footfall and reduces congestion, something that has currently taken a step backwards in our town.”

 

 

 

 

 

Stray Views: Electric car campaigners don’t speak for everyone in Knaresborough

Stray Views is a weekly column giving you the chance to have your say on issues affecting the Harrogate district. It is an opinion column and does not reflect the views of the Stray Ferret. Send your views to letters@thestrayferret.co.uk.

I am writing in response to a couple of articles relating to the council’s provision of electric vehicle charging points at its car parks in Knaresborough. The campaign itself is not reflective of the residents, taxpayers or visitors to Knaresborough.

The campaigners are failing to understand the effects petro carbons have not only on the environment but on people affected with chronic lung conditions like COPD and the more common asthma. There is also a direct cost to tax payers of Knaresborough as we have effectively paid for the electric vehicle charging points so to actively campaign for their removal is going to mean service provision cuts in order to fund it, and, no doubt in two years’ time to fund putting them back.

As such 0.12% of the Knaresborough taxpayer’s population are trying to make decisions for the 99% majority which is simply undemocratic and narrow minded.

If the issue is, as they allege that the car parks are full, what is wrong with reverting Gracious Street car park to short stay only? It used to have a maximum stay time so why not reintroduce this concept and make it two hours maximum stay with a no return in four hours, this could be extended to the castle car park.

Whilst the market place spaces could be subject to a very short term stay of one hour no return in four hours again. This leaves Conyngham Hall and York Place as longer stay car parks.

I have another proposal here too as there are businesses that do have car parking which may not be fully utilised so as a collective why don’t they work together and use the space we have but more effectively? What about car sharing? Using our fantastic public transport?

I am writing this letter due to the toxic nature of the anti-environment campaign given repeated air time at the Stray Ferret without seeking the views of Knaresborough taxpayers who will suffer if the spaces are removed.

We should be praising the council for taking the issue of pollution by the scruff of the neck and making Knaresborough a blueprint for other cities, towns and villages within North Yorkshire. I would welcome more clean air studies as per the Bond End work, subject to them getting government funding as I believe councils have funds but they can also apply for grants for such work.

Adrian Robson, Knaresborough

Lack of planning on trains after The Hundred match at Headingley

The match finished around 9.15pm. Burley Park station was mobbed with no staff to manage the situation. The platform was jammed and more people continued to arrive without any control – lots of families with young children.

People were very good natured but it was very lucky that there were no problems. After the test match, which ended at 6pm, there were loads of staff and transport police.

When the train arrived it was already busy and so everyone was jammed in. Surely this could have been planned for?

Stephen Hutchison, Harrogate

Do you have an opinion on the Harrogate district? Email us at letters@thestrayferret.co.uk. Please include your name and approximate location details. Limit your letters to 350 words. We reserve the right to edit letters.

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Plans to install 12 electric vehicle charging points at Wetherby Services

Plans have been submitted to install 12 electric vehicle charging points at Wetherby Services.

Gridserve, a sustainable energy firm in Kirk Deighton, has applied to North Yorkshire Council for the scheme just off junction 46 of the A1(M).

Gridserve was granted planning permission in November 2021 to alter the service station car park to create an electric vehicle charging hub for 24 vehicles. The application also included the creation of 17 additional car parking spaces in a new parking area.

The hub was completed in July 2022 but is not yet in use.

The new proposal, which appeared on the council website this week, has downsized the scheme to 12 charging spaces — half as many as the previous application — and no longer includes a new parking area.

Gridserve is also seeking permission to install electrical equipment that would enable the charging bays to be activated.

The company said in a letter to the council:

“The development is similar to that previously granted permission at the site, but at a smaller scale and with the addition of detailed specification of supporting electrical infrastructure to allow operation of existing and future chargers.”

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The letter adds:

“Gridserve is implementing and building a network of high-power chargers across the country that will provide UK motorists with fast, easy and low carbon charging solutions.

“Many will be located at existing destinations such retail parks and garden centres and will allow customers to use those amenities whilst being able to access dependable charging infrastructure.”

It added the government had a target to deliver at least six high powered EV chargers at every motorway service area across England by 2023.

The charging bays will be situated at the most northerly area of the car park, next to to the Days Inn hotel.

 

Eight ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points activated at Harrogate Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s has activated eight ultra-rapid electric vehicle charging points at its supermarket on Wetherby Road in Harrogate.

‘Ultra-rapid’ is the fastest type of EV charging available on the market. It means people will be able to charge their electric vehicles in as little as 30 minutes.

The 150kW charging points, which are located in the car park near, are available to all drivers, not just those shopping in-store. They were activated on Friday.

Sainsbury’s said in a statement the charging points are designed to be easily accessible for disabled customers, as well as those with young children, thanks to the additional space around and between bays.

The new charging stations at Harrogate Sainsbury’s.

Patrick Dunne, Sainsbury’s director of property, procurement and EV ventures, said:

“We know that demand for speedy, efficient EV charging facilities in the UK continues to grow and that’s why we’ve brought this great new service to the people of Harrogate.

“We hope customers enjoy the speed and convenience it offers and we look forward to hearing their feedback.”

He added the charging points would help the company achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2035.

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There are currently four generally recognised speeds of EV charging available in the UK, classified by the level of power or “flow” of electricity that the chargers are able to provide, in kilowatts. They are slow – 3-6kW; fast – 7-22kW; rapid – 25-99kW and ultra-rapid – 100kW+.

More information about EV charging at Sainsbury’s is available here.