Plans to increase number of electric car charging points in Kettering

There are just three public charging points in the borough at present, compared to 17 charging locations in nearby Corby.

A report prepared for the council’s research and development committee has outlined a two-phase project to up the number of points in Kettering.

Cllr Jim Hakewill (Con), who bought an electric Renault Zoe six weeks ago, was delighted to hear about the plans.

He said: “I am really delighted that the borough council is seriously investigating how we can make our borough more electric car-friendly.

“It would be great if we had a working group set up where we could talk to car manufacturers.”

The council is working with national supplier Podpoint to discuss the feasibility of installing more charging points.

The first phase will incorporate Kettering town centre, before the A6 towns are looked at in the second phase.

Charging points could also be put into Kettering Council-owned car parks at a cost of £5,000, if Government funding is not available.

The report added that income could be generated from charging points in the car parks and Cllr Hakewill agreed that the points could benefit the town’s economy.

He said: “I know if I was going to a hotel or going shopping I would look for somewhere that had a charging point.

“I think it could help the local economy, definitely.”

Nationally, the Government is to ban the production of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2040 to support the shift towards electric vehicles.

More people have bought electric cars in Kettering than almost anywhere else in the region recently – 241 in the first quarter of 2017 – and it’s thought the installation of more charging points will increase the uptake.

Public car charging points in Kettering can be found at the Newlands Shopping Centre, Holiday Inn Express and Euro Garages/Starbucks off the A43.