Man 'blocked' from charging car outside own home

A pensioner says he has been “blocked” by his local council from charging his electric car (EV) outside his home.

David Kelsall, who lives in Hathershaw, Oldham, said he had been pleading with Oldham Council for six months to let him charge his car on the street outside his home.

The retired car mechanic claimed he felt unsafe using his nearest public charger, three miles (4.8km) away from his home, due to his heart condition and anti-social behaviour in the area.

The council said running cables across pavements could pose a “trip hazard” and it was “still waiting for guidance” about allowing on-street charging.

Mr Kelsall, who has no access to off-street parking, said the issue was driving him “crazy” and making him unwell.

Transport for the North recently identified the region’s relative lack of driveways (53% compared to 40% nationwide) as one of several major obstacles to EV ownership.

Fearful he would get “caught out” by the government’s “phase out” approach to ban the sale of petrol vehicles by 2035 (previously set at 2030) and concerned about the level of air pollution in Greater Manchester, Mr Kelsall invested in an EV anyway.

‘Dangerous channels’
Mr Kelsall appealed to Oldham Council to let him charge his car on the street.

In emails seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, council officers cited “trip hazards” as the grounds for refusal, despite the design being set into the pavement.

Councillor Chris Goodwin said: “We are still waiting for guidance to be published and in the meantime are working with Transport for Greater Manchester to develop a regional approach.”

He said trials in other areas had shown cables in “pavement channels” could be “dangerous” to pedestrians, especially people with limited vision or mobility issues.

Local authorities including Milton Keynes and Bolton are piloting their own on-street parking schemes with designs that are fitted in ridges across the pavement.

Industry experts expect the government to introduce plans to invest more in EV infrastructure and company car tax at the upcoming budget on 30 October.