Follow PHTM
Posted on the 10th March 2025 in PHTM News
DFT ANNOUNCE ELECTRIC BOOST FOR THE MIDLANDS WITH OVER 16,000 EV CHARGERS ON THE WAY
Local authorities in the Midlands are set to roll out thousands of electric vehicle chargers thanks to more than £40m in Government funding. The approved projects consist of three groups comprising 13 local authorities:
Derby City £1,758,000
Derbyshire County Council £6,604,000
Lincolnshire County Council £5,620,000
Herefordshire Council £1,124,000
Nottingham City Council £1,704,000
Nottinghamshire County Council £5,522,000
Staffordshire County Council £4,588,000
Stoke-on-Trent City Council £2,693,000
Telford & Wrekin Council £1,020,000
Worcestershire County Council £3,481,000
Warwickshire County Council £3,295,000
Leicestershire County Council £3,151,000
Rutland County Council £257,000
Investment to boost charging infrastructure in cities, towns and rural areas, particularly for those without access to driveways comes on top of £2.3bn to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to electric.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood said: “Making charging as seamless and as easy as possible is a crucial to making the switch to electric a success, and rolling out over 16,000 chargers across the Midlands will make driving an EV cheaper and easier, especially for those without a driveway.
“Electric vehicles will power growth, cut emissions and improve lives in the Midlands and beyond, as we continue to deliver our Plan for Change.”
The announcement follows a particularly positive week for electric vehicles, with £120m confirmed to help drivers and businesses buy zero-emission vans, taxis and electric motorcycles.
The UK’s public chargepoint network continues to grow every day, with over 74k public chargers now available across the country and a record of nearly 20k added last year alone.
With £200 million announced at Budget to continue powering the chargepoint rollout and £6 billion of private investment in the pipeline, the UK’s charging network will continue to see hundreds of thousands of chargers added in the coming years, delivering resilient infrastructure so that EV owners can drive with the confidence that they’re always close to a chargepoint.
With over 382k EVs sold in 2024 – up a fifth on the previous year – the UK is the largest EV market in Europe. There’s never been a better time to switch to EVs, with one in three used electric cars under £20,000 and 21 brand new electric cars RRP under £30,000.
Read another story
- LEWES TAXI DRIVERS FACE DEVASTATING COST INCREASES AS COUNCIL HIKES FEES BY 60 PER CENT
The decision, made at a full council meeting on 4 March, will see the cost of a three-year hackney carriage/private hire/dual driver’s licence rise to £472.50 (from £315) sparking outrage among drivers already burdened b
- SHROPSHIRE TAXI LICENCE FEES INCREASE SPARKS OPERATOR CONCERN OVER DISPARITY
The approved changes mean that operators with up to 31 vehicles and one base will pay £417 for licence renewals, up from £371, while new applications in the same category will cost £375, up from £328.
- SHEFFIELD CABBIES BLAST UNFAIR RAILWAY STATION CHANGES AIMED AT GRIDLOCK
The plans include a 30% reduction in taxi permits, a 65% increase in annual permit fees to £1,140, and alterations to drop-off and parking areas.
- SHIPLEY TAXI CRACKDOWN: FOUR LICENCES SUSPENDED IN JOINT POLICE OPERATION
Four taxi drivers in Shipley have had their licences suspended following a joint operation between West Yorkshire Police and Bradford Council’s taxi licensing team on Friday, 7 March.
- ALTON TAXI DRIVER FACES DRINK DRIVING CHARGE AFTER PUBLIC TIP OFF
A 64-year-old taxi driver, Robert Lenox, is facing charges of drink driving following a police stop prompted by community reports.
- RIBBLE VALLEY CHECKS UNCOVER SERIOUS DEFECTS WITH THREE VEHICLES TAKEN OFF ROAD
Joint operations with Ribble Valley Borough Council's taxi enforcement officers and the DVSA, saw 11 licensed vehicles, a mix of hackney carriages and private hire, subjected to rigorous spot checks.
- LONDON BLACK CAB FARES SURGE AS INFLATION BUSTING HIKE SPARKS DRIVER SUPPORT
London's hackney carriage fares are set to rise significantly next month, with a 5.05% increase across tariffs and a 40p jump in the minimum fare, TfL has announced.
- SALFORD COUNCIL SECURES CONVICTION AGAINST PRIVATE HIRE DRIVER FOR ILLEGALLY PLYING
The complainant reported that Mr Mohammad had overcharged her for a private hire journey having attended a concert at Bolton Stadium in July 2023.
- NORTH YORKSHIRE TAXI POLICY SPARKS CONTROVERSY OVER WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBILITY
The council aims to increase the number of WAV taxis, currently standing at approximately 70, or one for every 9,000 residents, a ratio significantly lower than other rural authorities.
- ISLE OF WIGHT MAN HIT WITH HEFTY FINE AND COMPENSATION FOR TAXI DAMAGE
The court heard that Savaria-Jones caused £60 worth of damage to the seats of a taxi in Derbyshire last August.
- WOLVERHAMPTON COUNCIL TO INTRODUCE PANIC SWITCHES IN CABS AFTER DRIVER KILLING
The council's regulatory committee, scheduled to meet on 12 March, is expected to approve proposals that would allow drivers to momentarily record audio inside their cabs when they feel threatened.
- SUTTON MAN WHO SHOWS "SHEER STUPIDITY" CARRYING CROSSBOW IN A TAXI AVOIDS PRISON
A Sutton man, James Pedley, narrowly avoided a mandatory prison sentence after being caught carrying a crossbow in a taxi, a Mansfield magistrates court heard on 4 March.
- BRIGHTON CABBIES CLAIM POTHOLES FORCE EXPLANATIONS TO PASSENGERS: "I'M NOT DRUNK, JUST AVOIDING TRENCHES"
Andrew Peters of the Brighton and Hove Cab Trade Association said the "trenches" are causing significant stress and vehicle damage, leading to constant warnings within their trade's WhatsApp group.
- GLASGOW CAB DRIVERS LICENCE SUSPENDED AFTER GUIDE DOG REFUSAL
Javid Iqbal faced the city's licensing and regulatory committee on 5 March, where the incident from last November was reviewed.
- BLACKBURN DRIVERS FACE FURTHER DELAYS IN UBER ONBOARDING
This latest setback follows Uber's acquisition of a private hire operator licence for Blackburn on 12 November,
- GLASGOW PIRATE PH DRIVER SUSPENDED AFTER £90 SIX-MILE FARE AND £20 PURSE RETURN CHARGE
Malik Faisal's actions, which included charging £20 to return a lost purse, were deemed "alarm bells ringing all over" by committee chair, Councillor Alex Wilson.
- EAST AYRSHIRE TAXI FARES SET FOR HIKE THIS SUMMER
"The maximum amount a taxi will be able to charge for a journey of up to 1,320 yards (0.75 miles) will rise from £4 to £4.50," according to the council's documentation.
- WOLVERHAMPTON TAXI DRIVERS PROTEST RETRAINING RULES WHILE COUNCIL DEFENDS SAFETY MEASURES
Around 100 private hire and black cab drivers stood in protest in the University of Wolverhampton Science Park to oppose recent rule changes that would require them to retake training courses.
- WEST SUFFOLK COUNCIL TO DROP 15 YEAR TAXI AGE LIMIT AFTER DRIVER FEEDBACK
The council is poised to remove its 15-year age limit for taxi and private hire vehicles, a decision prompted by direct feedback from a driver at the first of the council's new driver and operator forums.
- SWINDON COUNCIL PROPOSES RELAXED DRIVER RULES AND STRICTER VEHICLE CHECKS
The move aims to address a loss of potential drivers to other licensing authorities, according to licensing manager Jason Kirkwood.
