Councillors' approval sought for new EV chargepoints
As many as 18 new electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints could be coming to the Newry, Mourne and Down district if approval for a new scheme is granted.
Members of Council’s Sustainability and Environment Committee will be asked this week to approve proposals to proceed with the ORCS (OnStreet Residential Chargepoint Scheme) EV Charger project.
It follows the successful appointment of a chargepoint operation via a joint procurement process led by Derry City and Strabane District Council.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council is one of nine members of a consortium to appoint a chargepoint operator for the provision, installation, operation and maintenance of EV chargepoints in nine council areas.
The agenda for this week’s committee meeting states that a funding application to the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) was successful as part of ORCS, with 25% match funding being received from the Department for Infrastructure.
“The procurement process to appoint a chargepoint operator was led by Derry City and Strabane District Council’s procurement team. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council was represented on the Tender Evaluation Team by the Council’s Head of Sustainability,” it reads.
“A tender process was undertaken in respect of these services in full compliance with Council procurement process.”
Five responses were received and these were evaluated using the published evaluation criteria, the report for councillors states.
“The chargepoints will be located in a range of locations that are in ‘close proximity to a residential area’, as the aim of the scheme is to benefit homes without driveways / off-street parking.”
Locally, the 18 locations mentioned include:
- East Street/Kings Lane Car Park, Warrenpoint
- River Street Car Park, Newry
- Two in Ben Crom Car Park, Kilkeel
- Charlemont Square, Bessbrook
- The Square, Crossmaglen.
Others are planned for Ardglass, Ballynahinch, Castlewellan, Downpatrick, Drumaness and Newcastle.
“Participating councils now need to give approval to confirm that they are prepared to continue to move forward with the ORCS project following appointment of the Chargepoint Operatior.”