Electricity bills for drivers suggested as moneyspinner for Galashiels

Councillors in Galashiels are looking into the feasibility of raising money by asking drivers of electric cars to pay for using charging points. 
Stirling Street in Galashiels.Stirling Street in Galashiels.
Stirling Street in Galashiels.

Currently, there are just three operational charging points in the town centre, all in the Stirling Street car park, although there are another two operated by Polar Plus at Currie Road’s Asda store. 

Now, councillors sitting on the Galashiels common good fund sub-committee are asking Scottish Borders Council officers to explore ways of potentially profiting from the power points. 

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One suggestion was to encourage the council to install further stations, with any profit going to the common good fund in the same way that proceeds from car parking charges are divided. 

Speaking at a meeting of the common good fund sub-committee last Thursday, September 10, Galashiels councillor Harry Scott said: “It’s all started again because of the poverty of our common good fund.

“We’re looking at ways we can raise more money and we had a couple of discussions a long time ago about the electric charging points. 

“Electric cars are the future, there’s no doubt about it, and I think we could support any investment that is made, but I do think if we get these electric charging points, then we should be able to make some money from them.

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“I don’t advocate any exorbitant charges, but someone who has an electric car plugs it in and gets the electricity for nothing, although I do understand they have to join some sort of club and there is payment involved, but none of it comes back to the council.

“If these things are coming, then it’s worth exploring if we can get some modest income from charging.

“People pay for car parks, so I don’t see why we shouldn’t make something from charging for electricity if it’s Scottish Borders Council that’s supplying it. It doesn’t seem fair not to. 

“If you compare a full charge for an electric car, it’s an average of between £17 and £20. To fill a car with diesel, it’s about £60, so it’s not a bad comparison.”

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Fellow Galashiels councillor Euan Jardine added: “I’ve been thinking about this and researching, and in London and Amsterdam they have lamp-posts that have charging points. 

“You can just pull up in the street and plug them in, and they get billed by the council automatically, so I don’t know if that’s the way to do it.

“If it’s a charging point in Gala that is charged by the council, then perhaps a percentage could come back to the common good fund. That’s maybe an avenue to look at.”

Councillors agreed to ask council officers to investigate and report back.