It’s electric – vehicle charging hub planned for Ayrshire Athletics Arena

Plans for Ayrshire’s first electric vehicle charging hub are at an advanced stage after funding was received from the Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund.

 

The hub, which will feature ten new bays, five rapid charging points and a solar panel canopy, will be built at the Ayrshire Athletics Arena on Queens Drive, Kilmarnock. The Arena, near to the Bellfield interchange, is the perfect location for residents and commuters to charge electric vehicles.

Councillor Jim Roberts, Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure said: “With funding of £435,000 now in place for Ayrshire’s first charging hub, plans can progress at pace. We hope to break ground in the New Year and have the hub operational early summer.

“The use of electric vehicles is a key target for the Scottish Government who have pledged to phase out new petrol and diesel cars by 2032. By ensuring that we have the right infrastructure in place now, we will be in a good position to meet demands on this service in the future.”

East Ayrshire Council’s project was awarded funding as part of the Low Carbon Travel and Transport Challenge Fund established by Transport Scotland from funds awarded under European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020 programme and Transport Scotland funding, where relevant, to enable everyday functional journeys to be taken by walking, cycling and public transport and to support an increased proportion on ultra-low emission vehicles on Scotland’s roads.

Notes to Editor

 

  • The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit our website or follow @scotgovESIF
  • Transport Scotland is Lead Partner for the ERDF Low Carbon Travel and Transport Programme. http://www.transport.gov.scot/environment/low-carbon-travel-and-transport
  • As part of the ERDF programme, Transport Scotland has committed to running a LCTT Challenge Fund and has appointed Energy Saving Trust (EST) to administer the Challenge Fund.
  • Transport Scotland has also made available a limited budget – up to £1 million in total – to support a proportion of the match funding requirements of Round 2 LCTT Challenge Fund projects.
  • Further information about the LCTT Challenge Fund is available on Energy Saving Trust’s website www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/lcttchallengefund or contact LCTT@est.org.uk / 0131 555 8690.