A BID to create two new electric car charging points in Halstead town centre has moved a step forward.

Town councillors have unanimously agreed on the way forward for the scheme after its budget was agreed at meeting in January,

The council agreed to spend £5,000 of its own money to bring the green technology to the town’s Chapel Street car park after securing a £15,000 grant from the Government to build electric charging points.

However, details over the type of charging points and the contractors to install them were still undecided until the council’s latest meeting on Tuesday night.

Councillors were unanimous in agreeing that the very latest technology should be used.

Mayor and council chairman Andy Munday, said: “What we are trying to do is put two electric charging points in the Chapel Street car park.

“In order to do this we would like to use the latest technology which would allow fast charging of vehicles rather than a four-hour charge.”

Fellow councillor Malcolm Fincken added: “I think it’s a far better solution and I think going for the four-hour choice would be ridiculous at this stage.

“If we start off with two then we can evaluate and see and maybe add to them later on because obviously the need is only going to increase as time goes on.”

With the number of electric cars on the road increasing, demand for electric charging points is on the rise.

Councillor Peter Caulfield said: “Last week there were three comments on social media asking for electric charging points in Halstead and I’m happy that we were able to say ‘watch this space’. There is clearly a demand for it.”

The council has decided to award the contract to install and maintain the charging points to specialist company InstaVolt.

Mr Munday said: “The fact that the company has actually provided a report which outlines the need for two is really encouraging.

“The fact that it is the highest form of technology with a 30-minute charge charging 80 per cent of the vehicle’s batteries, I think that will bring a lot of people into town.

“We won’t have to take care of any of the maintenance and we’ll even make a small income from those charging points so it’s a win-win situation for us and the town of Halstead.”

The town council voted to recommended that the contract with InstaVolt is approved, allowing them to enter the surveying stage and then construct the charging points.