Stratford-upon-Avon - now an Electric Vehicle Town

Stratford-on-Avon District Council has launched a new sustainable transport project in Stratford-upon-Avon.

Working with Alcester-based Greenwatt Technology, the District Council has obtained a 60% grant towards the cost and installation of four electric vehicle charge points supplied by APT Technologies and recently installed in Bridgefoot and Church Street car parks.  The project has also benefitted from free installation of the charge points by British Gas Electric Vehicle Services Team.

Cllr Mike Gittus, Chairman of Environmental Quality and Climate Change Panel says: “The introduction of these charging points is a step forward for the district and these parking spaces provide an opportunity for anyone with an electric car to use the electricity free of charge.

This initiative enables the District Council to demonstrate its commitment to reducing CO2 emissions in the town, to encourage the use of Electric Vehicles as a viable alternative for public and private transport users and to stimulate interest and activity from other public, private and community users leading to the establishment of Stratford as one of the UK's first Electric Vehicle Market Towns!"

The new project aims to place Stratford-upon-Avon at the forefront of tourist and market town destinations, encouraging the introduction and uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) as an efficient, low carbon transport solution for local residents, community, business and visitor groups

Andreas Atkins Head of Electric Vehicle Services at British Gas says: “We're delighted to be providing these free public charging points and working with Stratford-upon-Avon Council to bring down the carbon footprint of the whole community and save local drivers money. As the largest energy supplier in the UK, British Gas is leading the roll-out of the charging infrastructure to support a rapidly growing network of electric vehicles through exactly this kind of project."

Drivers wishing to use the new charge points need to register with Plugged in Midlands http://www.pluggedinmidlands.co.uk/join to receive their swipe card for access to the District Council's charge points.

Other EV initiatives in Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwickshire

Warwickshire County Council has introduced an EV charge point infrastructure at the Bishopton Park and Ride and at the new Stratford Parkway station.

Warwickshire County Council has also funded, with support from British Gas, Peugeot and Coventry University, the 'Electric Vehicles for Warwickshire GPs' Project (www.evs4gps.co.uk) again managed by Greenwatt which includes one charge point and EV supplied to Bidford-on-Avon Health Centre and The Revel Surgery, Rugby and Stretton-on-Dunsmore Surgery.