NEW electric charging points will be installed in several local towns in an attempt to reduce air pollution.

A £500,000 scheme to install electric vehicle charging points is being rolled out in seven locations in Kirklees.

They will offer free electricity for electric vehicle users until October 2021.

It forms part of Kirklees Council’s Climate Emergency and Air Quality Action Plan.

The authority has secured money for 17 charging points and the first seven will be at Low Lane car park, Birstall, St John’s, Cleckheaton, Crown Bottom car park, Holmfirth, Station Road car park, Mirfield, Dewsbury Station, Dewsbury, Oldgate, Huddersfield town centre and New Street car park, Slaithwaite

Kirklees Council aims to make the borough carbon neutral by 2038.

New West Yorkshire car charging network launched in Bradford

Its plan includes adding “significantly more” green vehicles to the council fleet, planting more trees, making sure it assesses the environmental impact of all council decisions, and increasing its recycling rate.

Karl Battersby, the council’s Strategic Director Economy and Infrastructure, said:  “These seven charging points will be part of an initial 88-strong West Yorkshire network.

“As this particular scheme is for a limited number of sites we prioritised those that are strategically located in town centres and outlying areas to provide accessible and well-distributed coverage.

“The selected sites also have enough available space and power supply to support the rapid charging points.

“We will be looking to secure more funding in the future to implement further initiatives that help remove the barriers for people looking to swap to electric vehicles.”

The charging points were paid for via half a million pounds of external funding from the Office of Low Emission Vehicles grant through the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

EV charging points are gradually being installed across the Bradford District, with the newest point being at Sedbergh Leisure Centre.