Residents, businesses and visitors are being invited to help shape the future of electric vehicle infrastructure in Westmorland and Furness.
A survey has been launched by Westmorland and Furness Council to gather people’s usage, thoughts and aspirations on electric vehicle infrastructure in their area. Whether they live, work or visit Westmorland and Furness, individuals, organisations and businesses are encouraged to share their views on how they find current provision and what they’d like to see in the future.
Last year, the council successfully secured £703,000 in funding as part of the pilot Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund and have been allocated a further £3.2m to improve electric vehicle charging infrastructure for households without off-street parking.
The council will use this significant funding to develop a more robust charging network with the provision of appropriate, well distributed electric vehicle chargepoints, both on-street and in car parks, ensuring convenience and accessibility and promoting the uptake of electric vehicles.
The feedback received will help inform Part Two of the council’s Electric Vehicle Strategy which will include a detailed plan for the LEVI project, outlining the development and installation of residential and destination chargepoints across the area.
To share your thoughts on electric vehicle infrastructure, complete our online survey.
The survey will close on Sunday 2 March 2025.
Paper copies of the survey will also be available in the receptions of the council’s main public buildings at Barrow Town Hall, Kendal Town Hall and Voreda House, Penrith, as well as council libraries.
Councillor Peter Thornton, Cabinet Member for Highways and ICT, said:
“We want to involve our communities and visitors in helping us to plan what future electric vehicle infrastructure could look like and have launched our survey to provide us with valuable feedback that will help us to develop our vision across Westmorland and Furness.
“With the UK government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2035, it’s essential that our area has a comprehensive network of charging points which will help to reduce carbon emissions as well as open up Westmorland and Furness to more electric vehicle drivers.
“By participating in this survey, you can directly influence where and how this vital new infrastructure is developed.”
Councillor Giles Archibald, Cabinet Member for Climate, Biodiversity and Environmental Services, added:
“As a council, one of our key priorities is to drive sustainable, inclusive and green growth in the region and supporting a transition to sustainable and low carbon transport is a key component of achieving these targets and priorities.
“Together with biodiversity loss, climate change represents one of the two greatest challenges of our generation. The development of this strategy further demonstrates our dedication to combatting them and providing leadership in the drive to become carbon net zero.
“With this upcoming strategy and having secured significant funding from Government, we are in a strong position to enhance and build upon the work we are already doing to ensure that Westmorland and Furness is a great place to live, work and thrive.”
