‘It’s dangerous,’ locals say as electric car charging station blocked over fears it will become a ‘hotbed for crime’

FUMING locals have blasted plans for a new EV charging station over fears it will attract sex workers and become a “hotbed for crime”.

Osprey Charging submitted an application to install 16 bays in a hub alongside the busy A1 in Lincolnshire – but residents claim an absence of staff will spark anti-social behaviour.

As reported by , the proposed rapid charge station – which claims to super boost electric cars in just 15 minutes – has been blasted by homeowners in the area.

A fearful local, Colin Medwynter, said: “A dimly lit isolated area, unmanned will be a hotbed for all sorts of crime and wrong doing.”

He added that he “wouldn’t be comfortable” with his own wife using the top-up point.

“Where you can’t really be seen or heard whilst being attacked or sexually assaulted, it’s ridiculous that they would even consider such a location, purely on the grounds of health and safety,” he added.

The controversial plans have also been slammed by South Kesteven District Council.

Officials stated in their vigorous objection the “isolated nature of the site has potential to result in crime and fear of crime” as well as “loss of agricultural land”.

In total there were 30 objections submitted and councillor Richard Cleaver told a planning committee: “I believe the issue is the nature of the site the fact it’s discreetly tucked away, the fact there is a good vehicle access to it.”

He added the location close to a motorway “fuels concerns” in the local community over fears it will “be a magnet for anti-social behaviour“.

Meanwhile, worried Vice-chairman Charmain Morgan added an absence of staff could encourage even more crime.

She explained she was aware of “sexual services being offered on the roadside” through local sources.

The official insisted CCTV cameras in the area would not act as a strong enough deterrent because “they do not provide an immediate presence”.

“What hasn’t also been mentioned is safety. I actually, as a woman, would be really concerned about sitting there stuck for 30 minutes while my car is charging in the evening or the night time,” she said.

“I think if we are doing this then it should be done properly and there should be staffing there – I suspect it’s about profitability that there’s no plan to put staff there.”

The Vice-chairman added people could take advantage of unattended public toilets without CCTV surveillance.

Chief executive of Osprey Charging, Ian Johnston, argued EV drivers wouldn’t have to stay in the area for more than 15 minutes to fully power up their car.

The EV boss said: “Anti-social behaviour is a nationwide problem whether you are on a greenfield or brownfield location.”

Ian Johnston also told The Sun Online: “Osprey are deploying thousands of public EV chargepoints across Great Britain, and ensuring that all of our sites are safe, well-lit and accessible is an absolute priority for us.

“We were the first UK charging network to collaborate with the independent Chargesafe programme to drive improvements in safety and accessibility standards across all EV charging locations.”

This comes as more than 60 new top-up stations are set to be fitted in 30 different areas in the UK.

They will be based in Essex, with drivers in Chelmsford, Colchester, Maldon, Braintree and Harlow pleased to hear the charging points are coming their way.

It comes after Essex County Council joined together with charge point operator Qwello UK to provide more necessary resources.

Fears over lack of charging infrastructure has even prompted the RAC to create a new EV Boost system to help get stranded vehicles back on the road.

Meanwhile, an EV owner has revealed the exact time you should charge up to save money and when you should avoid.

James Foxall told drivers how to get around “charge rage” as they go through the “maddening experience” of navigating the UK’s public charging network.

Plus, take a look inside Britain’s biggest EV hub where electric car drivers say charging is a nightmare and costs more than fuel.

And, get up to speed with new parking rules that could see diesel drivers pay ten times more than EV motorists.