Town to get thousands of on-street charging points

About 2,600 new vehicle charging points will be installed on a town's residential streets as part of a council-led project to bring them closer to residents.

Reading Borough Council and char.gy said they hope their 15-year project will mean at least nine out of 10 households without a driveway will be within 100 metres of a charging point.

About half of Reading's households do not have driveways or off-street parking, which the council said was a "significant barrier" if motorists want to use electric vehicles.

Transport accounts for about a quarter of all carbon emissions in Reading and the authority has said improving air quality is one of its priorities.

"We will be prioritising high-density residential areas without access to off-street parking for the installation of public charging points to clear the way for more people to make the switch to electric," John Ennis, the council's lead member for climate strategy and transport, said.

"Alongside the council's work to increase active travel and the use of public transport, boosted by £9m government funding for 49 new electric buses, this scheme will help improve our local environment, air quality and the health of Reading residents."

John Lewis, char.gy's chief executive, said the announcement was a "big milestone" for the company and the council.

"Together, we'll deliver thousands of public charge points designed around the way people in Reading actually live, park and travel. Our goal is to create a network that's reliable, accessible and fair, giving more people the confidence to make the switch to electric vehicles.

"We're proud to support Reading's wider sustainability ambitions, helping to accelerate the transition to cleaner transport and better air quality for local communities."