Flintshire Residents Without Driveways Warned Over EV Charging Problems

Councillor Tells Flintshire Residents Without Driveways to Think Twice About Electric Cars

Flintshire Councillor Tells Residents Without Driveways Not to Buy Electric Cars Residents in Flintshire who do not have access to off-street parking have been warned about the difficulties of charging an electric car safely outside their homes. Flintshire County Council cabinet member Cllr Chris Dolphin said residents without driveways should consider whether they can charge an electric vehicle before buying one. The comments came during a council discussion about the lack of a local policy allowing residents to use certain on-street charging solutions. Parking and EV charging problems The issue was highlighted by Connah’s Quay resident Phil Woods, who does not have a driveway and is disabled. Mr Woods said the majority of Motability vehicles available to him are now electric, but restrictions on running charging cables across pavements created difficulties. He said he had been forced to surrender his vehicle and return to a petrol car because of the lack of a suitable charging solution. The case was recently highlighted on the BBC consumer affairs programme Rip-Off Britain, bringing further attention to the problems faced by households without off-street parking. Why pavement charging is a problem Flintshire Council has concerns about charging cables being placed across pavements because they can create hazards for pedestrians. The council is also considering the wider issue of professionally installed gullies, which can allow cables to be routed more safely between homes and kerbside parking areas. Cllr Dolphin said highway safety had to remain the council's priority, with pavements needing to remain safe, accessible and free from hazards. He said applications and appeals were assessed against the council's adopted safety policies rather than individual circumstances. Calls for a national approach Flintshire People’s Voice Cllr Sam Swash questioned the council over its approach to cross-pavement EV charging during a council meeting. He also raised the issue of Flintshire's commitment to achieving net zero and questioned why the council had not introduced a policy allowing suitable charging solutions for residents without off-street parking. Cllr Dolphin said different local authorities were currently managing the risks and liabilities associated with cross-pavement charging in different ways. He called for the UK Government and Welsh Government to work together on a national approach so councils could follow clearer and more consistent guidance. What could happen next? Cllr Dolphin said Flintshire was monitoring trials and emerging guidance around cross-pavement charging while remaining committed to supporting the transition to electric vehicles. He also warned residents against running charging cables across pavements without permission, saying some people were already doing so despite the safety concerns. For drivers who rely on on-street parking, the debate highlights a growing practical issue: having an electric vehicle is one thing, but finding a safe and permitted way to charge it can be much harder when there is no private driveway.