A MEMBER of the public has written to a council saying they are ‘dismayed’ Launceston does not have electric vehicle charging facilities.

However, a local councillor said these facilities cost thousands of pounds.

The member of the public, who lives in Callington, wrote to the council last month to say they regularly visit Launceston for shopping and to visit the leisure centre, and pass through the town on longer journeys on the A30. They wrote: “I am dismayed that there are still no electric vehicle charging facilities in the town.

“I am aware that town and parish councils are not the responsible highway authority for the county, but I would ask you to lobby the local authority and Cornwall Development Company, who have installed electric vehicle charging infrastructure in many other towns across Cornwall, including Callington, to expand the provision to Launceston.

“I would also ask you to make all local businesses aware of the current grant available from the Office of Low Emissions Vehicles for EV charge points.

“Finally, I would ask you to consider in committee using your own funds to install town centre EV fast charge facilities for visitors and a rapid charge facility to encourage users of the A30 to break their journey in the town.”

At last week’s meeting of Launceston Town Council, Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston North and North Petherwin Adam Paynter, who is also deputy leader of Cornwall Council, said: “It would be quite handy if Launceston did have a charger.

“We did get quite a long way down the road at having one in Launceston. They were looking at having one down in Newport at the White Horse. It didn’t quite come to fruition.

“To get a rapid charger it would cost in excess of £8,000 for the kit. It’s not a cheap thing to do.

“The council did put a lot of chargers in — there’s one in Camelford. It’s a shame there’s nothing this end.”