Oxfordshire to gain 22 new park and charge sites as part of the government’s drive to reduce the use of fossil fuel powered cars.  

Cherwell District Council’s Windsor Street car park in Banbury has had 10 new charging points installed, which are operational as of today.

While Curtis Place car park in Kidlington has been fit with a further 12 that will be up and running by on May 20.

The fast chargers are ideal for either a quick top-up or a full, overnight charge. Parking at both sites is free between 6pm and 8am.

Councillor Dan Sames, Cherwell District Council’s Lead Member for Clean and Green, said: “We firmly believe that a widespread charging network will help fuel the move away from fossil fuel powered cars.

“We opened the first park and charge in Bicester at Cattle Market, which is already well used. These new sites extend charging facilities further within Cherwell District.

“What’s more, these chargers were designed and built from scratch by Bicester-based SME Zeta Specialist Lighting.

“They are an excellent example of the innovation and skilled employment that the town, with its strong links to motoring and aviation, is capable of delivering.

“We estimate that by 2030 one in five cars on our roads will be powered by electricity.

“Making use of council-owned car parks to facilitate adoption by local people who perhaps can’t easily charge at home, is one way of driving this positive change.”

It is estimated that 30 to 40 per cent of Oxfordshire residents don’t have private parking or a driveway suitable for home chargers. Which makes public car parks a useful solution.

Drivers will be able to pay for their charge with contactless payments, and no membership is required.

The chargers have a seven to 22 kilowatt output, which is enough to power a car for a 60 mile journey with two hours of charging, depending on the model of car.

These new additions fall under Oxfordshire’s Park and Charge project, which is a £5.4 million scheme funded primarily by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles through Innovate UK, and On-Street Residential Chargepoint scheme.

The project aims to give residents and visitors access to well positioned car parks, charging hubs and a wealth of resources to enable the switch to EV use.

Commercial partners have provided the remainder of funding, meaning no costs for the council.

More charging points are being planned at Cherwell’s car parks at Claremont in Bicester, and Calthorpe Street West in Banbury.

Both sites will see their chargers ready for public use in the coming weeks.

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