THE first ever rapid Electric Vehicle Charging Point in Cotswold District is now up and running at the Old Market Way car park in Moreton with the council's second being activated very soon in Cirencester.

Both charging points were made possible when the district council obtained funding from the government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles and should encourage people to adopt a greener mode of travel.

The charging points should encourage people to adopt a greener mode of travel between locations in the north and south of the district and beyond, as they will link to a nationwide electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Louise Croot, the Energy and Resource Projects Officer at Cotswold District Council, said: “We are very pleased that we have reached this milestone. We expect that this will boost the tourism industry, local traders and the local economy. Once the Cirencester hub is active, we will have two new EVCP hubs providing an important strategic link between existing charging points on the M4, M5 and M40. This should enable more electric car drivers to stop off in the Cotswolds in the knowledge that they can recharge their vehicles.”

The charging points will allow motorists to charge their vehicles in about 30 minutes – up to eight hours quicker than standard charge points, and also a three to four hours' improvement on fast charge points. There will be a £4 ‘charge and park’ fee which will cover a charge-up for each vehicle using the points and up to an hour’s worth of parking. The council will also ensure that users can access a Pay As You Go service via telephone or mobile phone app to pay for this new service.