Electric chargers at car parks used four times a day

Figures obtained by the Journal show that seven of the 12 car parks in Derry and Strabane fitted with electric battery chargers are averaging around four charges per day between them, with 1,042 charges registered since November 1, 2015.

The former Department s of Environment and Regional Development launched the ecar project in April 2012, with dedicated electric car parking spaces and chargers have been allocated across 12 car parks in the current council area.

While there is no data available for the facility at Carlisle Road in Derry, of the others, Waterside Railway Station has been the most used over recent months, with 286 electric car charges since November 1, 2015.

There have been a further 170 charges registered at Strand Road car park over the same period, and 225 at Victoria Market. Figures have not been provided for the other charge sites in Derry.

At Albert Street car park, Castlederg the electric car charger has been used just eight times- around once a month since November.

The Council has confirmed meanwhile that less than half of its 1,951 parking spaces across the Derry City & Strabane District Council area are actually located within Derry City. The city currently has 957 spaces, while Strabane has 700, Claudy 72, Castlederg 151, Donemana 41 and Newtownstewart 30.

A council spokeswoman said a major review of off-street car parking was now under way, with the public and businesses to be consulted over the coming months. This will feed into a new car parking strategy for Derry & Strabane “to ensure the provision of adequate facilities and bringing into line pricing structures across the council area minimising their cost to Rate Payers”.

She added: “Almost all of the parking facilities across the district have generated an increase in income/ usage during 2015/2016.”