Conwy’s cabinet backed plans to adopt a county-wide approach to installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points in public car parks and council-owned sites.

At a meeting at Bodlondeb on Tuesday, cabinet members voted in favour of inviting tenders for an operator to install the charging points.

It is hoped the move will help the authority meet increasing demands for electric cars before legislation changes in 2030.

Once chosen, the operator will work with Conwy, with the council taking a cut of the profits.

The rubberstamp follows a debate at a scrutiny committee meeting last week when councillors said the move was vital for the area’s tourist industry.

Cabinet member for environment, roads, and facilities Cllr Geoff Stewart proposed members backed the report, adding the cost of installing the EV charging points would be at no cost.

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He said: “I would emphasise that this (the policy) is developing. We would add to this as time goes on. The initial cost would be already met, and it would be met through the private sector as well.”

Leader Cllr Charlie McCoubrey said having rapid EV chargers in car parks would benefit towns such as Abergele and Pensarn.

Cllr Cathy Augustine said she had been a member of the Climate Challenge Programme Board, which did ‘incredible work’, and added this was an important strand, referring to Conwy’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

Conwy currently has 115 publicly available electric vehicle charging points at various locations, including both supermarkets and hotels.

In 2023 there were 1,116 electric vehicles (1.4% of all vehicles) registered within the county, but this figure is forecasted to increase significantly in the next five or six years.

That’s because in 2030 restrictions on diesel and petrol vehicles will be brought in.

Consequently, the council says it is forecasted the county will need 238 EV chargers to meet demands in the next 12 months and 2,186 by 2030.

Cllr Julie Fallon seconded the proposals.

She said: “This is a positive step forward and brings us in line with other places, and I think everything we can do to support greener ways of transport and encourage people to make those choices is a really positive thing.”

The vote to back the move was unanimous.