Earlier this year, together with its Gwent neighbours, Blaenau Gwent Council was awarded a share of £459,000 funding from the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) to start to develop the infrastructure for the vehicles of the future. In total around 67 fast charge points will be installed across Gwent.
A joint bid was put together by the authorities aided by the Energy Saving Trust and submitted by Blaenau Gwent Council. The project has also been supported financially by the Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales who funded a feasibility study.
In Blaenau Gwent there will be charge points installed in car parks in:
• Collier’s Row, Ebbw Vale
• King St/Worcester Street, Brynmawr
• High Street, Blaina
• Abertillery Sports Centre
Silverstone Green Energy has already begun work in Ebbw Vale and Abertillery, with all points expected to be available for residents to use by April.
Blaenau Gwent Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration & Economic Development, Councillor Dai Davies, said:
“This project will help establish an infrastructure across Gwent to provide residents with opportunities to drive electric vehicles in the future. Together with our key partners we are committed to helping to preserve the environment by supporting renewable energy and lowering our carbon footprints.”