47 new electric vehicle chargepoints in council car parks thanks to £300k grant
The 22kW fast chargepoints can charge two cars at the same time, resulting in 94 new EV parking bays spread across a number of council car parks in the districts.
Funded by a £300k grant from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV), their aim is to help more people transition to EV cars over the coming years – in turn helping to cut carbon emissions and reduce air pollution.
Mid Suffolk car parks with the new chargers are:
| Ipswich Street | Stowmarket |
| Bury Street | Stowmarket |
| Milton Road | Stowmarket |
| Iliffe Way | Stowmarket |
| Union Street West | Stowmarket |
| Station Yard | Needham Market |
| Buckshorn Lane | Eye |
| Cross Street | Eye |
With the following Babergh car parks also benefitting:
| Cock Inn | Lavenham |
| Girling Street | Sudbury |
| North Street | Sudbury |
| Station Road | Sudbury |
| Maiden Way | Hadleigh |
| Stonehouse Road | Hadleigh |
| High Street | Hadleigh |
Locations were specifically chosen to provide an off-street EV charging option for residents living nearby, who currently use on-street parking spaces.
However, they are also available for all other car park users – including visitors and tourists.
The chargepoints will be added to EV location services like Zapmap to make them as easy as possible to locate when planning a journey or visit.
“Having the right infrastructure in the right place is key in helping our communities thrive - and our car parks are no exception.
“The new EV chargepoints in Mid Suffolk are just one of the steps we’re taking to support greener forms of transport, helping our residents reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality.
“Anyone considering the benefits of EV ownership; cheaper running costs, cleaner, more sustainable and quieter travel, needs to know the charging infrastructure is available. This will provide the confidence to switch, but we know not everyone is going to buy an EV overnight either.
“So, while some residents are already benefitting from these new chargers, they aren’t being used to their fullest just yet.”
“Ensuring our facilities, including our car parks, are fit for the future is really important. Making sure we have enough EV infrastructure in the right places over the long term is a key part of that.
“It is vital we encourage greater numbers of people to shift to more environmentally sustainable modes of transport to help tackle climate change.
“These new EV chargepoints will play a greater and greater role in helping residents, as well as visitors and tourists to Babergh, to reduce their carbon emissions and improve air quality.”
The addition of these new chargers brings Babergh District Council’s total number of EV charging bays to 60.
Similarly, Mid Suffolk’s total number of EV charging bays is now 55.
