VIDEO: RUGBY League great Martin Offiah was in Warrington to help launch a new network of electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the town.
Offiah, the former England, Widnes and Wigan winger who has a statue outside Wembley Stadium after scoring what is widely recognised as the ‘greatest Wembley try of all time’, is the brand ambassador for Connected Kerb, one of the UK’s leading providers of EV charging infrastructure solutions.
The company signed a contract with Warrington Borough Council for the installation of 30 public on-street charging points to provide more convenient charging facilities for residents without access to off-street parking and the ability to charge their vehicle at home.
The council hopes the charging points will boost EV uptake in Warrington, after it declared a climate emergency in 2019 and made a commitment to shift away from fossil fuel vehicles. Connected Kerb has already installed charging points in nearby Halton and more installations are planned in the future.
The charging points are being installed on Bewsey Street, Gladstone Street, Lexden Street, Manchester Road and White Street.
Warrington Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for highways, transportation and public realm, Cllr Hans Mundry, said: “Through our Local Transport Plan, we’ve committed to building sustainable transport into daily life in Warrington. That’s why it’s vital that we support more residents to make the switch away from traditional petrol or diesel-powered cars.
“I’m delighted that this fantastic network of new EV charging points, in the heart of our communities, has now been launched. It’s an important part of work to remove barriers for those without driveways and help more local people make the transition to electric vehicles.”
The council’s cabinet member for sustainability and climate change, Cllr Janet Henshaw, added: “Making changes to the way we travel is one of the most impactful things we can do to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality and tackle the climate emergency. Electric vehicles will be a key part of transport in the future, and investing in the infrastructure to support this transition is a key priority for us.
“These new EV charging points are the latest example of the work we are doing to make electric vehicle ownership a more realistic proposition for local residents, and another step forward in ensuring we are prepared for the move from petrol or diesel to electric vehicles by 2030.”
Chris Pateman-Jones, CEO of Connected Kerb, said: “We are delighted to help bring sustainable mobility to everyone in Warrington by installing long-lasting, affordable and accessible charging points in convenient on-street locations. We are committed to ensuring that nobody is left behind in the EV transition, particularly in northern towns and cities, as we work to ensure that the UK is ready for when the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel vehicles comes into force in 2030.”
At the launch of the charging points in Warrington, Martin, who said he was “lucky enough to have a drive” unveiled streetside charging points which can be used by those living in Warrington who don’t have a driveway.
He added: “These electric charging points, using cheaper tariffs can help make the transition to electric painless.”
