The number of electric vehicle charging points available to electric car drivers in Sefton are among the lowest in the UK.
Our area has just over 10 publicly available charging points available per 100,000 people – a fifth of the average number available to people living across the UK.
There are some things being done to improve the situation.
Southport College is now offering specially tailored courses on Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points, with an investment in equipment available by AMP EV, an electric vehicle charge point design, installation and maintenance specialist based in Southport.
In recent weeks, the proposed new Sainsbury’s superstore based at Meols Cop retail park in Blowick and the nearby Town Lane Service Station on Scarisbrick New Road in Southport, close to Kew Roundabout, have both submitted planning applications to install new EV charging points for drivers.
The shock figures were revealed in the recent full Sefton Council meeting following a question from Birkdale Lib Dem councillor Iain Brodie Browne.
He asked: “How many charging points has Sefton Council installed? How does that performance compare with the best performing local authorities in the UK in this matter?”
Sefton Council Cabinet Member for Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services Councillor Paulette Lappin revealed a list of charging points which have been installed by Sefton Council.
These are all intended for use by Sefton Council’s own fleet or are publicly available:
Hawthorne Road Depot, 1 point, 2 plugs and 5 trickle charge plugs –
Fleet
Bootle Town Hall, 2 points, 4 plugs in total – Fleet
Southport Town Hall, I point, 1 plug – Fleet.
Tulketh Street approx. 1 point, 2 plugs – Fleet
Magdalen House, 1 point, 2 plugs – Fleet
Maghull Meadows, 1 point, 2 plugs – Public
Crosby Lakeside, 1 point 2 plugs – Public
Ainsdale Discovery 1 point 1 plug – Fleet
Southport Hospital, 1 points, 2 plugs – Public
In summary:- 10 points, 23 plugs.
Cllr Lappin said: “There are plans being developed to roll out publicly available chargers across the council car parks with installation targeted for this and next financial years.
“Many of the publicly available chargers have been provided by the private section.
“A study completed in December 2022 identified 30. This may have increased since the study was completed.
“According to DfT data, Sefton has 10.1 publicly available devices per 100,000 people.
“This is also below the United Kingdom average of 47.7 charging devices per 100,000 people”.
In June, Southport College’s Employer Partnerships initiative invited qualified electricians to learn more about installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points.
The College has recently enjoyed a boost through an investment in EV charging equipment thanks to AMP EV in Southport.
Meols Cop retail park in Southport, showing the site of a new Sainsbury’s, the site of a potential new drive-through, the site of the new PureGym and two available vacant units. Photo by Savills
In June, Stand Up For Southport revealed how Sainsbury’s is now abandoning plans to build a new petrol filling station at its new superstore in Southport – and will instead build an Electric Vehicle Charging Hub instead.
The supermarket giant is currently constructing a 81,330 sq ft flagship foodstore at Meols Cop retail park in Blowick.
Planning permission has been granted for a petrol filling station as part of the scheme, but Sainsbury’s says it has been inspired by Sefton Council’s declaration of a Climate Emergency to alter its plans.
The firm said: “The proposal provides a low carbon alternative to the previously approved petrol filling station, which assists with meeting the national and local Government aims of achieving sustainable development and reducing carbon emissions.”
The new scheme includes provision for eight Kempower EV charging units across 14 EV parking spaces, along with all associated infrastructure.
Savills, which owns Meols Cop retail park, has submitted a planning application to Sefton Council for the change of plans.
Town Lane Service Station at 258 Scarisbrick New Road in Southport
In April, Stand Up For Southport revealed how eight new Electric Vehicle charging points could soon be installed at the Town Lane Service Station at 258 Scarisbrick New Road in Southport, close to Kew Roundabout.
The Motor Fuel Group, the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator with over 900 sites, wants to offer motorists a ‘dual-fuel strategy’ to make it “as easy to charge your vehicle as re-fuelling with petrol or diesel”.
The firm has submitted a planning application for its ambitions to Sefton Council, which would see the erection of a charging zone, canopy and EV chargers, plus three jet wash bays, a substation enclosure, plant room and associated forecourt works.
The facilities would be available 24 hours a day.
In their submission to the council, they wrote: “The UK has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2035 and moving to Net Zero by 2050.
“As part of the Net Zero Strategy, the UK government has placed a new emphasis on electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the UK.
“As part of this drive, it is essential that there is a comprehensive and competitive EV charging network in place.
“Although difficult to know precisely how much charging will be needed, forecasts suggest that at least 280 to 480,000 public charge points will be needed by 2030 – more than 10 times the current number (around 25,000).
“En-route charging for longer journeys is deemed crucial to support the switch to EV and reduce concerns about charge ‘range anxiety’.
“Motor Fuel Group is the UK’s largest independent forecourt operator with over 900 sites offering a dual-fuel strategy, convenient retail and ‘food to go’.
“Motor Fuel Group are looking to roll out an extensive supply of EV charging facilities at existing and new service stations across the UK to diversify their existing offer, with the aspiration to make it as easy to charge your vehicle as re-fuelling with petrol or diesel.
“Motor Fuel Group’s proposal to install new EV charging points at Town Lane Service Station should be considered positively in light of the demand for the national context and the demand for the necessary infrastructure to support electric vehicle use across the UK.
“The proposals would contribute positively to the existing EV charging network, to the benefit of those utilising the strategic highway network surrounding the application site.”
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