EV parking bays refused for being too close to road

Plans to install seven rapid charge units to power 14 electric vehicle charging bays have been refused by Tameside Council.

Although the council isn’t against the EV points going into Burlington Street Car Park in Ashton town centre, it says the scheme can’t go ahead because current drawings put some of the charging infrastructure too close to the road. 

In his decision, Julian Jackson, Tameside Council’s Director of Place said the proposals from Leeds-based Zest Eco would fall foul of Section 192 of the Town and Country Planning Act (1990). 

“The proposed feeder pillars, or upstands and outlets, would be within 2 metres of the adopted highway in both Burlington Street and Cavendish Street.” 

One of the EV charging bays would have been designated for disabled parking. 

A spokesperson for Zest Eco said: “Zest is on a mission to make the transition to electric vehicles a realistic option for everyone.  

“As our network of public EV charging facilities across the UK continues to expand, we are collaborating closely with councils and planning authorities to ensure infrastructure is deployed across a range of sites in the communities that need it most, including Greater Manchester.” 

The chargers would've been the company's first in Greater Manchester.