The North York Moors National Park Authority, working in partnership with Zest, has opened new electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities for visitors .
The first of 12 new charge points are open now in the car park at Hutton le Hole, with work beginning soon in Newton under Roseberry.
Leeds-based Zest has jointly funded the project alongside the National Park Authority to enable EV charging in these popular rural destinations.
Zest will also operate and maintain the fast chargers to ensure a reliable, long-term service.
Lucas St John, commercial manager for the national park authority, said: “The introduction of EV charging points to the National Park has marked a significant step forward in terms of reducing carbon emissions in the North York Moors and we are delighted to see them rolled out across two more of our car parks.
“Hutton le Hole and Roseberry Topping are much-loved visitor destinations, so it’s really important that we provide facilities like EV charging to accommodate people now and in the future.”
The North York Moors National Park’s management plan mirrors national policy to conserve and enhance the landscape, biodiversity, cultural heritage, dark skies, and natural resources.
It also promotes public understanding, putting enjoying what’s on offer at the heart of developing a strong economy and thriving local communities.
This latest deployment follows a series of charge points opened last year by North Yorkshire Council and Zest.
In the market towns of Helmsley, the only market town within the national park, Malton, and Pickering, EV charging facilities have already proved popular with residents and visitors.
North Yorkshire Council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby, said: “The offer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is vital to those working in, living in, and visiting our beautiful county.
“Each year millions of visitors flock to the North York Moors, and this increased footfall means we need to be prepared for a larger number of electric vehicles.
“Last year we adopted a new county-wide strategy to make electric vehicle charging available to all. We hope an enhanced network of charging points will support the uptake of electric vehicles over the next 10 years and help to tackle climate change.”
Zest founder and CEO, Robin Heap, said: “For a smooth transition to EV we need to invest in charging facilities at all the places where people naturally park, including popular rural destinations like national parks.
“Our partnership with North York Moors shows the power of investing in the future, and that rural areas can play a key role in reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.”
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