Electric car charging points coming to Solihull

ELECTRIC car charging points look set to come to Solihull.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council is set to install two points outside Council House in the town centre.

It would cost the authority £8,000 to install, about £300 a year to maintain and about a pound per charge.

Drivers would pay for parking but not electricity under the plans, being considered today by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council.

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Solar panels for library

SOLAR panels were officially unveiled at Solihull Library yesterday.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council hopes the panels, on the roof, will save it £800 a year, three tonnes of carbon.

A grant from The Carbon Trust paid towards the panels. It is part of a council pledge to reduce emissions by 33 per cent by 2012.

A digital information board in the reception will tell visitors how much solar power the panels are creating.

Councillor Ken Hawkins, cabinet member for resources, said: “We are committed to taking a lead on tackling the effects of climate change in the borough.”

Cllr Hawkins, right, with Mayor of Solihull Councillor Norman Davies, added: “This project is one of many that is helping us to achieve just that, and also has the added benefit of saving the council money on its energy bills too.”

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Council pledges to cut emissions

SOLIHULL Metropolitan Borough Council has pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 10 per cent by the end of next year.

It has joined the 10:10 campaign, which calls on people and organisations to make the cut by the end of 2010.

The authority says it is committed to cutting emissions and has installed solar panels at Solihull Library.

Councillor Ian Courts, cabinet member for economic development and regeneration,
said in a press release: “We have already pledged to reduce our carbon emissions by 33% by 2013.

“Joining the 10:10 campaign, gives us another milestone to work to in our efforts towards this target, and also demonstrates again our commitment to taking the lead on tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our borough.”

Meanwhile, Solihull MP Lorely Burt said she wanted the council to give more information to businesses to ‘go green’.

She said in a press release: “Businesses in Solihull who want to play their part would reap the rewards by reducing their own energy costs as well as CO2 emissions, so it makes business sense to green business activity.”

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