Victory for Locals, as Controversial EV Charging Station Plans Are Withdrawn

teessidetoday
Mar 11
2 min read

Fens Shops Car Park, where the proposed EV charging stations were set to be sited....

Local's and business owners alike said to be breathing a sigh of relief, after controversial plans to install 14 EV charging stations is withdrawn after a deluge of objections were recieved to the local council....

11th March 2025

Plans to replace 23 standard parking spaces with 14 electric vehicle (EV) chargers have been officially withdrawn after its claimed Hartlepool Borough Council recieved receiving nearly 500 objections to the proposals.

HBC Exposed first broke the story in January 2025, revealing that JMS Planning & Development Ltd, acting on behalf of SWARCO Smart Charging Ltd, had submitted an application to Hartlepool Borough Council to remove existing parking spaces in favor of a new EV charging station. The proposal sparked a wave of opposition from local businesses and the wider community.

By February 2025, HBC Exposed reported that almost 200 formal objections had been lodged, forcing the plans to go before the council’s planning committee for a decision. However, despite mounting public pressure, the parking firm pressed ahead with its proposal—drawing further outrage, particularly after claims emerged that motorists had already been unlawfully charged under new parking regulations introduced at the site. .

Faced with overwhelming resistance, the developers have now decided to abandon their plans, marking a significant victory for local businesses and residents who'd fought hard to protect these much-needed parking spaces.

Many locals were said to have been outraged by the proposal, arguing that the EV chargers would rarely be used, and that losing so many parking spots would only worsen congestion. Business owners also voiced concerns, saying the combination of lost spaces and aggressive parking fines was already taking a serious toll on their livelihoods.

McDonnalds In Hartlepool's Marina Way has had its plans for a small number of charging stattions to be installed at their car parks approved by the Hartlepool Development Corporation

Whilst these particular plans have been scrapped, EV drivers however will soon see new charging stations installed in what many consider a more suitable location. McDonald's on Hartlepool’s Marina Way has recently been granted approval to install EV chargers in some of its parking bays. This signals a growing need for more charging infrastructure—but also highlights the importance of a common-sense approach when deciding where such facilities should be placed.

What do you think?

Should the towns local plan be updated to include appropriate sites for Electric Vehicle Chargers ?