Hastings Proposes £50k Facilities For Next-Generation Electric Transport

Proposals to install more electric car charging points in Hastings town centre are set to go before council leaders next week.

On Tuesday (September 1), Hastings Borough Council’s cabinet are set to consider proposals to allocate up to £35,000 for the installation of electric car charging stations at the Carlisle Underground and Priory Street multi-storey car parks. 

The funding would come on top of a £15,000 grant for the same purpose, which has been provisionally awarded through the government’s Town Board Accelerator Fund programme. 

When combined, the funding could see up to 12 new charging points installed at the two car parks. 

In a report to be considered by cabinet, a council officer said:

“The council has committed to installing 15 public charging points by the end of this financial year, in support of delivering its climate emergency commitments to make Hastings carbon neutral by 2030.

“This investment will support and enable residents, businesses and visitors to travel to the town centre, with the knowledge and confidence that they will be able to charge their electric vehicle. 

“Such investment will support the transition to low carbon vehicles and help to meet the town’s climate emergency action plan and improve local air quality.”

According to the cabinet report, the number of charging points which can be installed at the two car parks will be dependent on electric wiring and safety upgrades, but the council is aiming to install a total of 12. 

The majority – 10 of the 12 – would be installed at the Priory Street multi-storey car park, with the Carlisle underground car park only able to accommodate two charging stations with its current electrical capacity.

Until recently Hastings town centre only had a single electric car charging point, which was at the Pelham Place car park (although the council says it had been faulty for some time.)

In March, however, it was replaced with three new charging points, after a grant from the council’s charity committee fund.

At the same time, the council used its own funds to replace a charging point at the Marina car park (which had also been faulty) with another three charging points.

There is also a privately-owned electric car charging point at the Morrisons supermarket in Queens Road.

In the cabinet report, a council officer said:

“Whilst we acknowledge the council has an important role in helping the transition to electric vehicles by providing infrastructure in its car parks, we also welcome investment from the private sector, as we cannot deliver this agenda alone.

“Likewise, we encourage East Sussex County Council to bring forward plans for installing on-street charging facilities, as this could lead to a significant increase in electric vehicle ownership in the town.

“This is just the start of installing infrastructure which will enable sustainable transport within our town, there will be more to come, including E-charging for bikes and scooters.”

According to the council report, work on the project in its current form would be contingent on the government approving the £15,000 grant from the accelerator fund. While the grant has been approved provisionally, final confirmation of the funding is not due until late September. 

If funding is approved, the charging points would be likely to be installed early next year.