See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information relating to electric on-street charging. 

1. How many electric vehicle public charging outlets or chargepoints have you installed in your local authority to date that are classed as on-street residential chargepoints, located in residential streets or areas? Please provide figures to the nearest possible date.
44 chargepoints/sockets in total, 38 of which were funded through the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme. These are all owned and operated by Opcharge.

2. For Question 1, how many on-street residential charging outlets or chargepoints have you installed to date in your local authority that have been adapted specifically for disabled users? Please provide figures to the nearest possible date.
For all the residential chargepoints, consideration was given to the following standards and guidance at the time of installations:
- PAS 1899:2022 PAS 1899 - Electric vehicles accessible charging specification;
- Inclusive Mobility - A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure (2021);
- Equality Act 2010; and
- BS 8300-1:2018 and BS 8300-2:2018 Design of an accessible and inclusive built environment - External environment. Code of practice

3. For Question 1, how many on-street public charging outlets or chargepoints are positioned in disabled parking bays?
None of them are located in dedicated disabled bays but the positioning of charging infrastructure in most cases facilitates where possible the use of chargepoints from disabled users.

4. For Question 1, how many of the on-street residential chargepoints in your area conform to the BSI’s latest accessible charging specification (PAS 1899:2022)? Please provide figures to the nearest possible date.
Please see response to Q2.

5. Does your electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy include specific considerations for elderly and / or disabled users?
While there is no specific mention of disabled or elderly users in the document, one of the core objectives of our EV Charging Strategy is that all future deployments are accessible to all users (https://www.myjourneywokingham.com/car-travel/electric-vehicles/)
To ensure the principles of PAS 1899:2022 are fully incorporated into future roll-outs, the Council has been developing its own design standards in consultation with the Energy Saving Trust and Motability.

6. Do you provide any additional support for disabled or elderly users wanting to access public chargepoints for electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, such as charge-point assistants or roaming charging services?
Not yet. Our residential chargepoints are owned and operated by Opcharge who provide a 24/7 helpline to assist users with any issues or enquiries.

7. Do you support or provide marketing tools to residents to make finding charge point services easier, such as charge point booking or journey planning technologies?
All residential chargepoints have been added to zap map. Currently, users cannot prebook a charger, but this functionality is being investigated by Opcharge as something that could potentially be added in the future.

8. How many on-street residential chargepoints in your area have been installed or adapted to conform to BSI’s latest accessible charging specification (PAS 1899:2022) since June 2025? If unable to provide data since June 2024, please provide data for the past 12 months, since March 2025
All the existing residential chargepoints were installed prior to June 2024. Consideration was given at the time of installation to PAS 1899 guidance and specifically to the chargepoints design and placement – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure was being installed on smooth, stable ground whilst avoiding any low-level obstacles in the vicinity of chargepoints and where possible in well-lit areas enhancing the feeling of safety.

9. Do you currently allow or permit the use of cable covers across pavements for residents charging electric vehicles from their homes?
No due to accessibility and safety concerns.

10. Do you have gully charging available or approved for use within your local authority area?
Due to safety concerns, liability ambiguities, and prohibitive upfront costs, Wokingham Borough Council has decided not to proceed with the cable gully option at this time.
Instead, we have been exploring the Trojan Energy ‘Home’ system which provides 'flat-and-flush' kerbside charging for residents without driveways. Key benefits include:
• Cost & planning: No upfront installation costs for hosts and no planning application required. Hosts pay a subscription fee of £50/month (plus energy costs) for the initial 36-month period.
• Enhanced Safety: A bespoke fault detection system removes the need for traditional 2.5m separation distances.
• Social impact: Multiple residents can use the point if they have a 'lance' connector, with tariffs set 10% below the national average for 7kW public charging.
The trial is currently on hold following the acquisition of Trojan Energy by Connected Kerb.