Starting this week, works are getting underway to install 28 new 22kW EV charging points in several council car parks in Babergh, including Hadleigh and Lavenham

They are thanks to a £300K grant from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). 

Each charging point will be able to charge two vehicles at the same time, significantly improving access to chargers for local residents and visitors. 

In Hadleigh, Magdalen Road car park will see a number of EV points installed, while former councillor Clive Arthey's campaign for EV points in Lavenham has helped see chargers placed in the Cock Horse Inn car park.

Locations have been chosen specifically to provide an off-street EV charging option for residents living nearby, who currently use on-street parking spaces. However, they will also be available for all other car park users. 

Former councillor Clive Arthey

Their aim is to help cut carbon emissions, reduce air pollution, and encourage greater numbers of people to shift to more environmentally sustainable modes of transport across the district. 

Works, being carried out by Suffolk-based firm Anglia Car Charging, have been phased to ensure as minimal disruption as possible. They will start from this week and continue throughout this year. 

Visitors are advised to refer to specific signage in each car park for information about when works will be taking place. 

With the following Babergh car parks benefitting: 

• The Cock Horse Inn 
• Lavenham  
• Magdalen Road (long stay) 
• Hadleigh  
• Girling Street 
• Sudbury 
• North Street 
• Sudbury 

Cllr Daniel Potter, cabinet member for environment at Babergh District Council, said: 

"Ensuring our facilities, including our car parks, are fit for the future is really important. Making sure we have enough EV infrastructure in the right places is a key part of that.  

"These new EV charging points will be a real step forward in supporting our residents, and visitors to our beautiful district, to reduce their carbon emissions and improve air quality. 

"Please do look out for signage in our car parks for information on when works will be taking place." 

The works form part of a rolling programme to install more electric vehicle charge points in Babergh and Mid Suffolk, with plans currently being drawn up for further charge points in 2024.

 Mid Suffolk car parks due to benefit from the new chargers are: 

• Ipswich Street  
• Stowmarket 
• Bury Street 
• Stowmarket  
• Milton Road 
• Stowmarket
• Iliffe Way  
• Stowmarket
• Union Street West
• Stowmarket