Nearly two years since work began, electric vehicle chargers have been activated in a town centre carpark.

Southwell Town Council, in partnership with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Inspire, BP Pulse (formerly BP Chargemaster) and the National Grid (formerly Western Power Distribution), has installed charging points to serve eight parking bays in the Bramley Centre carpark, Southwell.

The scheme faced significant delays due to covid-19 and legal issues between the organisations, which were out of the council’s control.

The council said: « At the outset no one was aware of the complex legal issues involved that had to be negotiated between these separate bodies. Unfortunate delays also occurred due communications at the height of covid when some contacts changed, this resulted in a stop-start delays.

« There have been many delays which have been out of Southwell Town Council’s control. We are pleased that the problems have been overcome and that we are able to provide our residents with this electric charging facility. »

mpu1

The delays caused concerns within the council, and at a full council meeting it was said the chargers were ready to be connected in June 2021 ­— but only became operational in late February 2023.

At the meeting, on February 15, Peter Harris said: « This has categorically been a disaster for the town.

« It is a reputationally damaging issue ­— why should the town council suffer for other people’s incompetence. »

Roger Blaney added that it had taken both Western Power and BP Chargemaster too long to carry out the work.

The National Grid (Western Power Distribution) explained that delays to the work were the result of way leaves agreements.

It said it received an initial enquiry about the project on March 11, 2021 and sent out a quote the same day ­— with work booked in for August 2021.

Western Power Distribution was made aware by Nottinghamshire County Council that it need consent ­— a way leave ­— from both Newark and Sherwood District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council to install the chargers in the carpark.

mpu2

This was cleared by the district council in the same month, but was not cleared by the county council until over a year later, in October 2022.

A spokesman for National Grid said: « We probably should have picked up the way leave issue ourself, but it was Nottinghamshire County Council that brought it to our attention. That was our failing.

« It does happen that way leaves can take a long time to go through. »

The energy company claims that once the consent was granted for the work, it operated within normal time frames to bring the chargers into action.

Nottinghamshire County Council has been approached for comment.

Of the eight now-operational charging bays, four are restricted to use by electric vehicles while charging and the other four can currently be used by any vehicle.

The facility is also designed to allow those with no off-street parking at their homes to charge their electric vehicles.

The town council said: « Usage will be monitored, and consideration will be given to the number of charging bays used for electric vehicles whilst charging. Electric vehicles will need to park in other bays in the car park if they are not charging. »