The Cambridge City Council has been reviewing a proposal to erect new electric vehicle charging units at a local petrol station. However, it has reportedly been held off as authorities aim to gather more information on its potential effect on trees, water supply, and drainage.
Proposal
Motor Fuel Group, UK’s biggest independent forecourt operator, has already applied for Cambridge City Council’s approval to replace BP gas station’s car wash facility with four new EV chargers on Elizabeth Way.
Apart from that, they also plan to install four new jet washers to make up for the loss of the car wash facility.
Motor Fuel Group claims that the application with Cambridge City Council is crucial to its wider project to deploy EV chargers throughout its service stations.
Concerns about the project proposal
The proposal is remarkable because it supports electric vehicle adoption in the city.
However, it has received scrutiny from adjacent sites regarding its planned longer operating hours and the sufficiency of the forecourt space to cater to a large number of EVs.
Apart from that, Councillor Jenny Gawthrope Wood also voiced the same concern about the project proposal during the city council’s planning committee meeting on March 1. Nonetheless, she applauded the project, stating that she was “really pleased” with such EV charger project proposals in Cambridge.
In addition, Councillor Alex Collis has also shared his skepticism regarding the number of trees that might be affected to give way for the project. That said, he is looking for solutions, such as adjusting the project scope to avoid tree-cutting.
On the other hand, Councillor Katie Thornburrow and Councillor Naomi Bennett expressed their concerns regarding the project’s potential effect on the water supply. They are considering the amount of water the new jet washer may use before agreeing to the project.
Apparently, the project site is not specified in the local plan of the city government, per Councillor Thornburrow. She pointed out that the project looks to consume more resources than actually boosting the city’s sustainability.
“…we should not be making [the situation] worse.”
Councillor Katie Thornburrow
In conclusion, Councillor Thornburrow argued that the Cambridge City Council is not yet ready to decide and needs further study.
The committee decided to postpone the approval of the application so that it could conduct a further assessment of the project.
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