A newly installed set of charging spaces for electric vehicles (EV) are to be removed after residents pointed out that they block access to a historic church nearby.
Residents in Hangleton were surprised after access to the main entrance of St. Helen’s Church was blocked by new EV charging spaces, seemingly without any consultation.
Following a request from ward councillors, Brighton and Hove City Council contacted engineers to halt work on the installation and remove the junction box.
The EV charging spots, which were agreed in January, are directly in front of the only path to the main entrance of the church, where hearses and wedding cars often park.
Local churchgoer Kelly Howells said: “I’m absolutely dumbfounded why this has been placed there, as well as it being a busy junction with cars and buses.
“I just pray that the council gets this removed. It’s ruining the most beautiful church.”
Local resident Raye Fielding said: “There’s an idea. Before just wasting money and carrying out unnecessary work, they consult with the people that it will affect.”
Following a request from Hangleton and Knoll councillors, Brighton and Hove City Council contacted engineers to halt work on the installation and remove the junction box.
Local resident Alex Beaken said: “This is such a shame.
“I was married there and the cars for weddings and funerals stop there as it’s at the bottom of the path to the church door.
“There are so many other places available. Why on earth did this one get selected?”
Ward councillors Amanda Grimshaw, John Hewitt and Faiza Baghoth, said: “Father David has explained to us as ward councillors that the EV charger would impede the correct positioning of hearses outside the church and impede the procession.
“Since speaking to Father David yesterday afternoon, we have taken urgent action to stop the charger being installed.
“However, we know that there is a growing demand for EV chargers in our ward, particularly as many residents do not have off street parking and therefore require on street EV chargers.
“Across Brighton and Hove we’re projected to have as many as 27,000 electric vehicles by 2028.
“So it’s vital we have a good EV infrastructure to meet that need going forward.”
St Helen’s is the oldest church in Brighton and Hove, and part of it pre-dates the Norman conquest.
99% of residents in Hangleton valley drive Do have off street parking
Installed half a dozen In Sainsbury’s
So who’s the idiot who decided on the EV charging spot in front of the church. I suggest you find a job that’s not too taxing for your intelligence.
Good job they don’t know how many conventional vehicles are in Brighton or they’d build a petrol station there
Perhaps Council Leader Bella Sankey would like to comment on this?
Well done ward councillors.
Who decides where EV charging points (and Beryl Bike hubs and cycle racks for that matter) go?
Did someone request the EV charging point went here, or did the council just decide this was where one was needed?
Seems Labour are no better than Greens in wanting to impose their schemes, rather than consulting those affected.
Council Officers. Then it is usually the Ward Councillors who challenge and block along with residents who provide the hyperlocal knowledge. Important to talk to people, right?
Not only did someone propose this location for the charging spots but it will have been discussed and someone else signed off on it, probably multiple people, and not one of them had two braincells to rub together.
It makes you weep.
It’s a pretty left field consideration. I don’t think there are many who would have automatically thought about hearses. Still, someone did and it was sorted. No harm, no foul. Lesson about talking to the hyperlocal.
No harm? Just wasted money as they had started the physical installation, and who doesn’t appreciate that hearses and wedding cars need to park outside churches?
Your undying support for our council’s incompetent actions makes me think you could well be an employee – possibly part of the 26 strong communications team 🤔
Given your defense then you’re probably the fool who made the decision.
Ironic that its one of the named Councillors is the one that approved the request and location
It’s also becoming a parking area for commercial vans.