Free to use electric car charging points are now operational in five areas of Merseyside.

More than 40 new charging points installed in Hoylake, Wallasey, Birkenhead, Bromborough and Woodchurch are free to use by members of the public.

The Wirral Council pilot project, which begun in July and ended in September, aims to increase electric vehicle use in Wirral and reduce carbon emissions.

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A statement on the council website said: "This will help residents to support Wirral’s climate strategy, Cool 2, which sets an ambitious goal of shifting to fossil fuel free local travel by around 2030."

The charge points are located on residential streets where there are usually no parking charges.

However, Wirral Council said existing parking restrictions on any roads, where the charging points have been installed, still apply and should be followed.

The scheme is funded by a £77,000 grant from OZEV (Office for Zero Emissions Vehicles), formerly known as OLEV, and £26,000 from Wirral Council.

The charging points, which have only been operational since October, are be free for the first 12 months (from October 2021 to October 2022).

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The charging points are located on streetlight columns and have been installed in locations where the council expects residents will be using them to charge their electric vehicles overnight.

On their website, Wirral Council added: "This scheme is a pilot. Whilst there are no imminent plans to install more electric vehicle charging points, this is something that the council would support. All future schemes will be subject to securing funding."

Roads with electric vehicle charging points:

Road name// Number of charging points

Carrington Road, Wallasey // 4

Cressingham Road, Wallasey // 3

Atherton Street, Wallasey // 3

Walby Close, Woodchurch // 2

Ackers Road, Woodchurch // 3

Ganneys Meadow, Woodchurch // 4

Elm Road, Birkenhead // 2

Palatine Road, Bromborough // 5

Cable Road, Hoylake // 2

Elm Grove, Hoylake // 2

Chapel Road, Hoylake // 1

Waverley Road, Hoylake // 2

Sandringham Avenue, Hoylake // 5

Grove Road, Hoylake // 2

Rostherne Avenue, Wallasey // 4

The Kings Gap, Hoylake // 1