CONCERNS have been raised about the lack of public electric vehicle charging points in a borough.

Hyndburn’s MP Graham Jones said there are currently only two charging points across the entire borough.

Mr Jones said there was a ‘long way to go’ in making sure people can buy an electric car in the confidence that they can run it.

He is now calling for Lancashire County Council to start installing charging points in Hyndburn.

Mr Jones said: “The lack of public electric vehicle charging points has been a local concern that I have previously raised in Parliament.

“At present, there are only two charging points across the entire borough of Hyndburn.

“If the Government plans to ban the sale of all petrol cars by 2040, there is a long way to go in making sure local people can buy an electric car in the confidence that they can run it properly.

“The third and only one in the centre of Accrington (on Union Street) was removed in September 2017 due to works to upgrade the area around the Town Hall.

“After making enquiries, it appeared that Lancashire County Council were set to ensure that more vehicle charging points would be installed.

“Hyndburn Borough Council, keen to sort out the issue, has been left waiting for the county council’s programme to begin."

“It is badly needed in Hyndburn as the town centre no longer has a public charging point.”

The county council said a draft list of sites in East Lancashire is currently being considered, however work to ensure each site can be used for the number of charging points being proposed is not yet complete.

It is envisaged there will be 17 charging points at four sites in Hyndburn, 14 charging points at three sites in Burnley, 15 charging points at three sites in Pendle, 12 charging points at three sites in Rossendale and 11 charging points at two sites in Ribble Valley.

A spokesman for the county council said: "We have received funding from the Department for Transport to establish a network of 150 charging points for electric vehicles.

“We’ve awarded the contract to install and manage them to Chargemaster, and are currently working with them to finalise the list of sites.

“The first of the charging points will be installed in the coming weeks, and we are aiming to have the vast majority of them in place by the end of the December.”

Blackburn with Darwen council’s regeneration boss Cllr Phil Riley said the council has plans for four charging points on the new car park behind the bus station, which should be installed by the autumn.

Cllr Riley said: “There will also be a couple in Darwen and more in the underground car park building in conjunction with the new cinema.”