New Electric Vehicle Charging Points Installed at HMI Club

Hailsham Town Council has welcomed the installation of two new electric vehicle (EV) charging points at the HMI Club in Western Road, providing additional publicly accessible charging facilities for residents and visitors to Hailsham.

The new charging points have been installed following an agreement by the Town Council to contribute towards the installation costs, with the HMI Club also sharing the cost of the project.

Although the charging points have now been installed, they are not yet ready for use. Further work is required to connect the equipment to the electricity network and complete the necessary commissioning arrangements. The Town Council will announce when the charging points are fully operational and available for public use.

The HMI Club was identified as an initial viable location, offering a suitable site where charging infrastructure could be installed and made available to the public. The Club subsequently agreed to support the proposal and work with the Town Council to deliver the project.

The introduction of EV charging points has always been a key policy objective within the recently updated Hailsham Neighbourhood (Development) Plan, which recognises the need to support improvements to sustainable transport infrastructure across the town.

Cllr Mary Laxton, Chair of the Town Council’s Neighbourhood Planning Committee, said: “The installation of these new charging points is a positive step towards supporting more sustainable transport choices in Hailsham. As electric vehicles become increasingly common, it is important that the town has the infrastructure needed to support residents and visitors who rely on them.”

“The provision of EV charging facilities is also reflected in our updated Hailsham Neighbourhood Plan, so it is particularly encouraging to see this policy objective being put into practice.”

Cllr Dave Chapman, Chair of the Assets Management Committee, commented: “The Council has been looking at its own property portfolio to identify locations where publicly accessible EV charging points could realistically be provided. The HMI Club was identified as a suitable first location, and we are delighted to have worked with the Club to bring the project to fruition.”

“By sharing the installation costs, the Town Council via its allocated CIL funds, and the HMI Club, have been able to deliver a practical facility that will provide a useful service for the local community and visitors to Hailsham.”

“It is great to see the charging points now installed and available for use in the near future. This project demonstrates what can be achieved through partnership working and by making effective use of suitable locations within the Council’s property portfolio.”

“As demand for EV charging continues to grow, we will continue to explore other potential locations where additional charging facilities could be provided in the future.”

The Town Council will now continue to investigate other suitable locations within its property portfolio and across Hailsham where further EV charging infrastructure could potentially be introduced.

The installation of the two new charging points at the HMI Club represents a further investment in local infrastructure and supports the Council’s commitment to helping Hailsham prepare for the increasing use of electric vehicles.