Car-charging solutions being blocked by Government

The Department of Transport must provide guidance for installing car charging for people without off-street parking, says local councillor Sam Al-Hamdani, who has written to Transport Minister Mark Harper requesting for the guidance to be issued as soon as possible.

At the moment, residents wanting electric cars are being blocked as Councils like Oldham’s are refusing to provide any option other than formal planning permission until the national guidance is issued.

Sam Al-Hamdani said: “There are people who want to buy electric cars, but without clear information on how they can install charging, they are effectively blocked from doing so.

“There are simple, safe and effective solutions on the market, but companies understandably want to ensure they are compliant with the law – and at the moment, the Government aren’t providing people with the information on how to do this.”

The lack of off-street parking in Oldham is a perennial issue; with anyone who has tried to find a space to mark on its many streets lined with terraced houses being all too familiar with the problem.

Councillor Al-Hamdani said: “The Tory Government makes a great deal out of supporting the marketplace. Well right now, people want to buy electric cars, companies want to sell them, and the Government is getting in the way.

“They need to stop making up issues to have arguments about, and get on with delivering practical solutions to help people – or let someone else do that instead.”