SDLP Waterside Councillor Martin Reilly
He was speaking at a Council meeting of the Environment and Regeneration Committee.
Said Cllr Reilly: “The Waterside has particular challenges in regards to the existing electric charging network, so I am very pleased that Derry City and Strabane District Council is playing a lead role in rolling out more electric charge points not just here in the North-West, but across 9 of the 11 Council areas in NI.
“Our Council successfully applied to a UK government scheme and will now also be afforded money from the Department for Infrastructure to deliver 124 additional charging points as part of the On Street Residential Charge Point Scheme, which facilitates those who don’t have a driveway to charge their car.
“As Minister for Infrastructure, former SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon awarded match funding for local councils that successfully applied to this scheme and I am very pleased to see this investment come to fruition.
“While this is a very positive start, there is of course more to be done. As well as extending the charging network, the existing charge points need improvement.
“The Committee also heard why these need to be upgraded and how this initiative will be progressed in conjunction with Council in the years ahead.
“If we are going to tackle the climate crisis and protect our environment for generations to come, it’s critical that the right infrastructure exists to move people away from diesel and petrol vehicles and towards zero emission vehicles.”
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