An environmental group wants more road space to be set aside for electric vehicle charging points amid worries about pavement space being lost.

The call from the Norwich branch of Living Streets comes as almost 50 new publicly accessible charge points are to be installed across city streets.

Norfolk County Council confirmed that 46 on-street electric vehicle charging points will be installed in the Nelson, Mancroft, Mile Cross, Sewell, Thorpe Hamlet, Lakenham and Town Close areas.

Eastern Daily Press: Ms Hall said that while EVs are an improvement on petrol and diesel vehicles, walking, cycling and public transport should come firstMs Hall said that while EVs are an improvement on petrol and diesel vehicles, walking, cycling and public transport should come first (Image: Newsquest)

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Lucy Hall, who lives in Walpole Street, near Chapelfield Gardens, is part of the Norwich branch of Living Streets, which looks to achieve a better walking environment.

Ms Hall, 66, said: "This is a new threat to our public space with more clutter on the pavements.

"These EV chargers are yet one more thing which should be in the road.

Eastern Daily Press: Lucy Hall lives in Walpole and is part of the Living Streets Norwich GroupLucy Hall lives in Walpole and is part of the Living Streets Norwich Group (Image: Lucy Hall)

"It's serving car drivers so there's no real reason for them to be where people walk every day and clog up the paths.

"The issue becomes particularly bad if people are using wheelchairs or buggies."

A Norfolk County Council spokeswoman said: "In all locations identified for the installation of EV charge points the minimum standards of footway widths will be met to ensure accessibility.

"We aspire to exceed this in most, if not all, locations to at least 1.2m clearance.

"The chargers are positioned on the footway because this is where they are easier to operate and where they meet accessibility requirements in terms of drivers using wheelchairs who will need to access sockets and payment terminals from footway level.

"We encourage anybody with any feedback on the locations to please take the time to complete the survey which is currently open.

"We know from research that a lack of charging points is one of the top barriers to people making the transition to EVs and hope this programme will support more people in the Norwich area to make the change to electric."

Eastern Daily Press: A total of 46 on-street EV charging stations are to be installed around the cityA total of 46 on-street EV charging stations are to be installed around the city (Image: PA Media)

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The county council is giving folk the chance to offer their views on the charging points at norfolk.citizenspace.com.

Ms Hall says there are better ways to incorporate the charging points, adding: "The pavements are pretty narrow as it is and space is always limited.

"Living Streets is arguing they should be built out onto a separate section of pavement so the current space isn't lost.

"The group isn't against electric cars - it's a good improvement on petrol and diesel vehicles - but walking, cycling and public transport need to come first."