PETITION TO DORSET COUNCIL

Objection to the proposed siting of six EV charging points on Avenue Road, Weymouth DT4 7JJ

To: Dorset Council – Planning and Highways

Residential On-street Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging

Location: Avenue Road, Weymouth, DT4 7JJ

We, the undersigned residents and local people, wish to object to the proposed siting of a block of six electric vehicle (EV) charging points on Avenue Road, Weymouth.

We support the principle of providing accessible EV charging infrastructure and recognise the importance of expanding charging provision. However, we believe that the proposed concentration of all six charging points in this particular location is inappropriate and that a more carefully considered alternative arrangement would provide the required infrastructure while reducing the impact on residents and the residential character of the area.

Our proposed alternative

We respectfully ask Dorset Council to reconsider the proposed layout and instead:

Locate only two EV charging points on Avenue Road, in the section between Grange Road and No. 1 Avenue Road; and
Locate the remaining four charging points on the south side of Cassiobury Road, at or close to its junction with Avenue Road.
This alternative would distribute the charging infrastructure more appropriately and, importantly, would mean that none of the charging points would be positioned directly in front of residents' houses.

Reasons for our objection

1. Impact on residential amenity

The proposed concentration of six charging points on Avenue Road would have a significant and unnecessary impact on the immediate residential environment.

The associated charging equipment, marked charging bays, vehicles using the facilities and increased activity could create a more intensive use of the highway immediately outside residential properties. Dorset Council recognises that residential amenity and matters such as noise, disturbance, layout and the relationship of development to neighbouring properties are relevant planning considerations.

2. The proposal unnecessarily concentrates infrastructure in front of homes

There appears to be an opportunity to distribute the charging provision between Avenue Road and Cassiobury Road rather than concentrating all six spaces along one residential frontage.

We consider that a distribution of two spaces on Avenue Road and four on Cassiobury Road would provide a more balanced solution while still delivering six charging points.

3. A practical alternative location is available

Our objection is not to the provision of EV charging points. We are asking Dorset Council to consider a better location and layout.

The proposed section of the south side of Cassiobury Road at its junction with Avenue Road offers an alternative location for four of the charging points. Combined with two spaces on Avenue Road between Grange Road and No. 1 Avenue Road, this would achieve the same overall provision without placing a block of six charging points directly outside residential properties.

4. Highway safety and accessibility should be properly considered

The Council's planning guidance confirms that road safety, access, parking and traffic generation can be material planning considerations. 

We therefore ask Dorset Council to assess the proposed six-space arrangement against the alternative layout, including:

pedestrian visibility and safe movement;
visibility at the Avenue Road/Cassiobury Road junction;
the effect on existing parking which already is an acute problem for resident parking permit holders
accessibility for pedestrians, including those with mobility impairments;
emergency vehicle access; and
the cumulative effect of six charging spaces being concentrated in one residential location.
5. The alternative would provide a fairer distribution of the impact

EV charging infrastructure is intended to serve the wider community. It is therefore reasonable to seek a layout in which the physical impact of the infrastructure is not unnecessarily concentrated directly outside a small number of homes.

Spreading the six spaces between Avenue Road and Cassiobury Road would distribute the infrastructure more appropriately while retaining the intended charging capacity.

6. We ask Dorset Council to consider local knowledge

Dorset Council states that local feedback is sought when determining the suitability of proposed on-street charging locations and that residents can identify information which may not have been apparent from initial research or site visits. 

We therefore ask the Council to give proper consideration to the concerns of residents who live in the immediate vicinity and to investigate the alternative layout proposed in this petition.

Our request

We respectfully request that Dorset Council:

Does not proceed with the proposed siting of all six EV charging points on Avenue Road;
Reconsiders the proposed layout;
Locates two charging points on Avenue Road between Grange Road and No. 1 Avenue Road;
Locates the remaining four charging points on the south side of Cassiobury Road at its junction with Avenue Road, subject to the necessary highway safety and technical assessments; and
Ensures that the final arrangement does not place charging points directly in front of residents' houses where a suitable alternative location is available.
We believe this would achieve the objective of providing six EV charging points while creating a more balanced, considerate and appropriate arrangement for the local residential environment.

We respectfully ask Dorset Council to listen to local residents and reconsider the proposed location and postpone the commencement of any until the matters raised in this petition are resolved

SIGNATORIES  Signature, Name, Address, connection to the area (ie resident)

 

 

Petition organiser: Jennifer Hawkins

Contact details: 7 Avenue Road, Weymouth DT4 7JJ , jhawkinsis@icloud.com 07888669366 Resident

Date submitted: