Stoke-on-Trent to get more electric charging points

Most of the new charging points will be in areas where off-street parking is limited, said the council

Hundreds of electric vehicle charging points are to be installed in Stoke-on-Trent as part of a move to cut air pollution, the city council has said.

Around 50 charging points will be fitted in 2024/25, with another 500 installed in the following four years.

Most will go in areas with limited off-street parking to encourage people to switch to electric.

More than £3m of government funding is being used for the work, the authority added.

Councillor Amjid Wazir of the city council said: "Like most towns and cities, Stoke-on-Trent has poor air quality and road transport is a key contributor to that.

"Pollution can have a detrimental impact on the health of our residents, so we hope this scheme will benefit the environment as well as motorists and commuters."

The programme will come at no additional cost to the taxpayer as it is fully funded, he added.

The council has said there are currently around 1,500 electric vehicles in the city and fewer than 60 accessible charging points.

It believes Stoke-on-Trent will need 800 public charging points by 2030 to meet demand for electric vehicle charging.