New electric vehicle charging points

Photo - one of the growing number of electric cars in Yate (this one owned by a Focus Team member)

South Glos Council is installing 14 new electric vehicle (EV) charging points at seven locations across South Gloucestershire.

The 14 charging points will be located at Emersons Green, Hanham, Kingswood, Patchway, Staple Hill, Thornbury and Yate, offering residents and visitors to the area rapid (50kW) and fast (7-22kW) charging facilities at a wider range of locations. This is the first phase of our roll-out of EV charging points, with future plans for a number more at sites across the area. They will be installed in public car parks at:

• The Parade (Epney Close), Patchway (one fast)
• Yate Shopping Centre West car park (Station Road entrance), Yate (one rapid and one fast)
• Cecil Road car park, Kingswood (two fast)
• Mary Street car park, Thornbury (one fast)
• Haynes Lane, Staple Hill (one fast)
• Laburnum Road car park, Hanham (one fast)

The council is also installing one fast and five rapid charge points at a flagship West of England charging hub at the Bristol and Bath Science Park (BBSP) in Emersons Green, which will also feature a solar canopy. They ultimately aim to install a total of 12 (including both rapid and fast) EV charging bays at the hub.

The council expects to begin installing the first batch of charging points from mid-July and all 14 will be operational by the end of March 2021.

This is welcome news but there is still a long way to go to make electric cars an option for people without driveways.

The Liberal Democrats have submitted a written question ahead of next week’s council meeting on installing charging points in lamp posts.

Photo - one of the growing number of electric cars in Yate (this one owned by a Focus Team member)

Free electric blanket testing on Friday at Yate Library

There will be FREE electric blanket testing this Friday (25th January) at Yate Library. Do you know some elderly people who might benefit? Or maybe you work with elderly people and could pass the word around?

Free testing and free blanket if their blanket fails - ring Fiona O'Driscoll on 01454 863632 to book. There are plenty of spaces available at the moment.

Is your home safe for winter?

Avon Fire and Rescue Service want to help you make sure you stay safe this winter. They offer advice on:

• Home Fire Safety Visits
• Firework safety
• Winter safety issues like chimney fires
• Electric blanket testing - take your blankets to Yate Fire Station between 9.30am and 4pm this Friday (14 October) to have them tested for free. To make a booking, call South Glos on 01454 863632.

Nationally, around 1,000 fires are caused by faulty electric blankets each year. Before you buy a blanket make sure it carries a recognised approval mark, such as the British Electrotechnical Approvals Board (BEAB) mark, or the International Standard number EN 60967.Don’t buy second hand and have your blanket inspected by the manufacturer or a qualified electrician in accordance with their instructions, usually every three years.