Local car parks to get a boost with new electric vehicle chargers

10 Oct 2024

West Suffolk Council is due to start the work at The Guineas Shopping Centre car park in Newmarket from 21 October 2024 and Parkway car park in Bury St Edmunds from 28 October 2024.

This new infrastructure is part of a district-wide effort to meet the council’s strategic priority of supporting sustainable growth and a resilient environment and is funded by West Suffolk Council and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). Through this project, residents living near the chargers who do not have access to off street parking have a solution to charging their EVs. The chargers can also be used by the council’s fleet vehicles when working in communities and towns, for example car park patrol vehicles.

When finished, the chargers will also further help attract current and transitioning electric vehicle owners to the town centres as well as reducing carbon emissions and contribute to a cleaner air quality within West Suffolk. 
 
The Guineas Shopping Centre car park in Newmarket will have a total of four dedicated EV charging bays located near to the car park entrance, two of which replace those removed earlier in the year from the multi-storey car park.

Parkway in Bury St Edmunds will also have four dedicated parking bays with EV chargers, located on the surface car park behind Cineworld. Residents on Chalk Road South will be contacted by UK Power Networks (UKPN) before work starts outlining any roadside disruption. Any disruption is anticipated to be minimal and the road will remain open.

Car park users are warned that there could be some disruption during October to facilitate the new infrastructure. Users are advised to follow the signage on site to alternative spaces within the car parks.

Cllr Gerald Kelly, Cabinet Member for Governance, Regulatory and Environment at West Suffolk Council, said: “The new chargers are located near shopping centres to provide a convenient and efficient solution for those transitioning or who already own EVs to power their vehicles while visiting local businesses. This not only supports sustainable growth and the local economy but also a resilient environment. We are managing the works so that we can keep the car parks open throughout and disruption to a minimum. We appreciate the community's patience during the charger installation process.”

For more information, visit: Electric vehicles

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