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Proposals to permit more electric vehicle charging points could pave way for problems for pedestrians, according to Living Streets Scotland, part of the UK charity for everyday walking.
Proposals to permit more electric vehicle charging points could pave way for problems for pedestrians, according to Living Streets Scotland, part of the UK charity for everyday walking.
The charity is concerned about a consultation from the Scottish Government designed to accelerate the roll out of electric vehicle (EV) chargers by removing some existing planning safeguards.
Currently, electric chargers usually don’t have Permitted Development Rights, therefore planning permission is usually required. But new permitted development rights could be made available to councils and private charging companies as part of the biggest change to Scotland’s streets in a generation.
Living Streets believe that planning permission is an important safeguard ensuring footways space isn’t lost in housing developments, especially avoiding the creation of pinch points below a 1.5 metre clearance. This is the acknowledged minimum for comfortable passage of a wheelchair or person being assisted by a guide dog.
The charity believes more extensive work with disabled people is required to determine the true impacts of the changes. Living Streets Scotland, together with RNIB Scotland, Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, Guide Dogs Scotland, and Disability Equality Scotland, argues that all charging equipment must be on the road and not cluttering pavements.
Stuart Hay, Director, Living Streets Scotland, said: “Footways cluttered with EV charging points and trailing cables present serious problems for people with wheelchairs, buggies or guide dogs, preventing them from getting around easily and safely. Attention to detail is critical, and in almost all cases pavements aren’t suitable for electric chargers.”
“The impact the proposed changes will have on disabled people is greatly underplayed in the consultation. Further engagement is needed, which must be accessible, including the use of non-technical language appropriate to the public.”
“Cluttered pavements also impact on everyone’s desire to walk their short journeys instead of driving them. If we want to encourage cleaner, sustainable ways to travel then we need streets that are walkable.”
Craig Spalding, CEO of Sight Scotland and Sight Scotland Veterans, said: “We’re fully behind initiatives to bring about positive environmental impacts, but it’s important these are balanced with access to community spaces. We’re concerned that the rapid rollout of e-chargers without sufficient planning procedures could see charging points appear in places that cause accessibility issues and obstacles for people with sight loss.”
Niall Foley, External Affairs Manager, Guide Dogs Scotland, said: “While we welcome measures to reduce our carbon footprint, EV charging points can prove a hazardous obstruction for people with sight loss if they are not installed with care. It’s important to have consistent guidance and standards to ensure that EV charging points are not barriers to pavement users.”
Research released by Living Streets in July 2022, found that over one in four Scottish people (28%) would walk more if their streets were clutter free. The option of reducing planning controls therefore flies in the face of government policy which is trying to create better infrastructure to get people walking”
Meanwhile, Conservative Councillors express delight that Perth and Kinross Council are to produce report on handing over EV charging points to the private sector.
Cllr Noah Khogali who commented towards Perth and Kinross Councils approach said: “I am delighted the SNP administration have conceded that the Council should, at the very minimum, be considering handing over EV charging points to private industry to promote investment, innovation and reliability of service.
It is unfortunate that the first paper that they brought to their landmark new committee was almost entirely devoid of exciting ideas and innovation, merely pithless policy, but I am glad that our amendment that aims to inject new ideas and forward thinking proposals made its way into the paper.
There is no doubt that, at a time when the EV industry is rapidly evolving, private companies are far better at keeping up pace with technological improvements, and far more able to bring them directly to the people of Perth and Kinross with a speed unbridled by the quagmire of local government. If the power of the free market is unleashed in Perth and Kinross, consumers across the area will benefit long into the future from that investment.
The Conservative group will continue to fight hard to ensure that the SNP Administration cannot use this Committee as a meaningless distraction, and that it produces genuinely impactful policy, not just posturing.”
