ESB Initiative for Bandon is Welcome
Issued : Monday 28 June, 2010
Labour Party Town Councillor for Bandon, Gearóid Buckley has welcomed confirmation that the ESB intends to install at least one on-street charging post for electric vehicles in Bandon town.
Cllr. Buckley said, “Bandon Town Council has received confirmation of this from the ESB “e-cars team” following my motion to last month’s Town Council meeting (see copy of motion blow*).
“The motion called on the ESB to consider Bandon as a location for one of its charging posts when rolling out its national electric vehicle infrastructure. I was delighted that the motion received the unanimous support of my Council colleagues and I am pleased by the very positive response from the ESB.
“As well as making the use of electric cars a more viable option for people in Bandon, I believe that this initiative will create opportunities for new eco-friendly businesses to start up in the area. We could see a new or existing taxi/hackney firm being powered entirely by electricity and local companies will have the option of converting their delivery vehicles. The availability of this infrastructure will also encourage local people to consider converting their vehicles, which in turn will create work and jobs.
“Technology is always developing and improving and the costs of converting are continually falling. Green energy jobs will be a key part of future economic growth in Ireland. Bandon needs to seize all of these opportunities if it is to grow and prosper into the future. We cannot afford to sit back – we have to be out there competing to get the infrastructure in place that will give Bandon a fair chance to develop as it should.
“The ESB has stated that if the take up for this service is encouraging it will consider increasing the number of charging posts in Bandon. For the initial roll out, the ESB will be concentrating on the larger population centres around the country, so as yet we do not have a firm date for the installation of the on-street charger in Bandon but I hope it will be sooner rather than later.”
Cllr. Buckley concluded by saying, “I would like to thank Transition Town Bandon for bringing this matter to my attention. Their efforts to make Bandon a sustainable community must be supported and encouraged. They have already established garden allotments, which are available to the public to lease. This will give town dwellers a real opportunity to grow their own vegetables in an environmentally friendly and cost effective way. These are all positive initiatives for Bandon. I think they will prove to be important steps in Bandon becoming one of Ireland’s first “Green Flag” towns."
*TEXT OF MOTION:
"That this Council will email ecars@esb.ie requesting that Bandon be chosen as a location for one of the 1500 new charge points being installed nationwide."
ENDS
Cllr 
