Electric vehicle (EV) owners are facing concerns over receiving parking fines while waiting for their cars to charge. This issue was highlighted during a Gloucestershire County Council meeting on Tuesday, July 8, where officials discussed the ongoing rollout of new EV charging points.
To date, more than 120 charge points have been installed across 33 locations as part of Gloucestershire’s on-street residential charge point scheme. However, questions were raised at the environment scrutiny committee about protecting motorists from unfair parking charges during the charging process.
Cheltenham Councillor Martin Horwood (LD, Leckhampton with Warden Hill) addressed the issue directly, asking if steps were being taken to prevent EV drivers from being penalized for overstaying in parking bays while their vehicles charge.
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“There have been reports of people not being able to stay long enough to charge their cars without getting fined for overstaying,” Horwood explained, emphasizing that this situation is completely unreasonable. “Are we working to resolve this?”
Colin Chick, Director of Economy, Environment, and Infrastructure, responded that he had not yet seen evidence of such incidents, particularly on streets. He encouraged further investigation, with Councillor Horwood suggesting inquiries be directed to local MP Max Wilkinson. Officers noted that while such fines had been reported in car parks, they had not been confirmed for on-street charging bays.
Last month, Gloucestershire County Council announced an investment of £620,000 toward installing 1,000 new charge points across the county. This initiative supplements existing private charging facilities at car parks and petrol stations. The first phase, consisting of 25 double charge points, is slated to launch in Gloucester and Cheltenham later this financial year.
Council representatives emphasize that expanding the EV charging network will provide more options for residents and help reduce transport-related carbon emissions, ultimately improving air quality. The availability of accessible on-street chargers is seen as a vital component in encouraging the wider adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles.
A significant barrier to EV ownership remains the lack of convenient charging options, particularly since around 30 percent of households cannot charge vehicles off-street. In response, the government prioritizes grant funding, covering 75 percent of costs, to support councils in developing on-street charging infrastructure in residential areas.
If you have experienced parking fines while waiting to charge your electric vehicle, the council encourages you to share your experience by contacting [email protected].