East Lothian Council's Roads Services team have been shortlisted as a finalist at the Highways Awards 2019

It recognises their ambitious programme to install new electric vehicle charging infrastructure upgrade existing chargepoints within the county.

This year’s awards, which celebrate excellence in highway engineering, received a record number of entries from around the UK. This award, in the environmental sustainability category in the highways sector, will got to an organisation, local authority or partnership that is able to demonstrate consideration of environmental issues within a project. The project should improve sustainability in the highway environment such as: carbon footprint reduction; local environmental benefits; sustainable material use; reduction of CO2 plus involve community liaison and consultation.

Alan Stubbs, Service Manager, said: “Our ambition is to provide high quality Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to encourage more drivers in East Lothian to convert to electric. Not only will we provide a comprehensive network of modern and reliable EV chargepoints across the county. We will also enable people to support sustainable travel, reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive contribution to the improvement of air quality.

"The chargepoints are installed in prominent locations where they are not only practical but start conversations about new technologies and our impact on the environment.

"We have developed a distinctive ‘Electric East Lothian’ brand which is used across the county to refer people to the wide range of resources on our dedicated website. This is the start of our ambitions and we aim to be one of the leading local authorities within the UK that will enable people to make the switch to electric vehicles while also having a positive contribution to our environment. I am delighted that the hard work of the team and our has been recognised at a national level."

Awards will be presented at a ceremony in London on October 9.

Published: Monday, 2nd September 2019