30 minutes free parking offer for EV drivers in Herefordshire

Electric vehicle owners in Herefordshire will get half-an-hour of free parking at council car parks while charging. Starting on 16 March, drivers of electric or hybrid vehicles that need to plug in and charge will be able to obtain a free 30-minute parking ticket to display in their vehicle.

The scheme applies to council car parks with EV charging points across the county, including Garrick House, Plough Lane, Shirehall and Venn Close car parks in Hereford, Kington’s Mill Street in Kington, St Katherine’s in Ledbury, Etnam Street in Leominster and Red Meadow in Ross-on-Wye.

New rapid charging points have been installed at Edde Cross Street car park in Ross, St Martin’s in Hereford, and Broad Street in Leominster.

The council said these will be capable of delivering an 80% charge to a vehicle in 20 minutes, with electricity supplied to the council’s charging point network produced from 100% renewable energy.

Cllr John Harrington, cabinet member for infrastructure and transport, said: “This scheme is part of the council’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. We hope this incentive will encourage those purchasing a new vehicle to consider alternatives to petrol or diesel engines and, in doing so, reduce the impact that harmful nitrous oxide and particulate matter in our town and city centres can have.”
Herefordshire Council declared a climate emergency last year.

It will publish its new Carbon Management Plan in April. The document will outline the council’s plan to reduce carbon emissions over the next five years and set an interim target for its commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030-31.