Day: March 5, 2021

53% increase in number of electric vehicles in the UK in a year

  • All but one local authority recorded rises in BEVs on the roads between Q3 2019 and Q3 2020
  • London, south and east of England dominate – with some of the most affluent boroughs in the capital seeing the greatest numbers

The number of battery electric vehicles (‘BEVs’) in private hands in the UK rose by nearly 30,000 in the 12 months to September 2020, an increase of 53% on the year before, with more than a third of these (36%) in London and the South East of England, RAC analysis of the latest official Government data shows.*

The increases mean that almost exactly half of all BEVs in the UK – 86,130 vehicles – were licensed by private individuals as of the end of the third quarter of 2020, with the remainder of 86,387 vehicles licensed by companies.

This is a one-and-a-half fold (150%) increase compared to a year earlier, a clear indication of the rising popularity of electric vehicles among companies and something that is vital for the future health of the second-hand EV market.

Four of the top 10 local authority areas with the greatest number of privately licensed BEVs are in London, with Barnet having the most (1,235 vehicles).

Wiltshire has the second highest number (1,075 vehicles), followed by Westminster (919 vehicles), Cornwall (899 vehicles) and Camden (781 vehicles).

Conversely, the smallest numbers of privately run BEVs, aside from those on some island communities and the square mile that is the City of London, are to be found in South Wales – in Merthyr Tydfil (21 vehicles) and Blaenau Gwent (27 vehicles).

When it comes to the areas seeing the fastest growth in privately registered battery electric vehicles, the top two authorities are in London – Barking and Dagenham, and Waltham Forest – both of which have seen numbers double in the space of 12 months (from 52 in 2019 to 112 in 2020, and 89 to 179 respectively).

Growth outside the capital is spread widely, with parts of Derbyshire, Cumbria, south west Wales and Sussex all recording significant increases, albeit starting from small bases.

At the other end of the scale, growth of battery electric vehicles was slowest in parts of Northern Ireland including Armagh (up just eight vehicles, from 134 to 142), Gateshead and Sunderland in the north east of England and on the Orkney Islands. Only the Isles of Scilly, off the coast of Cornwall, recorded a drop in licensed BEVs between 2019 and 2020, down from 28 to 25.

Overall, 87.3% of all battery electric vehicles licensed by private individuals were in England as of September 2020, almost unchanged (up 0.3%) compared to a year earlier. Scotland has the next biggest proportion (8.2%, up from 8.1%) followed by Wales (3.0%, down from 3.1%) and Northern Ireland (1.4%, down from 1.8%).**

RAC data insight spokesman Rod Dennis said: “While starting from very small beginnings when you consider there are around 32m cars licensed for use in the entire United Kingdom, the growth in pure electric vehicles is extremely promising. There is a long way to go, not least as only half of these vehicles are in private hands, compared to nine-in-10 of all cars**, but it’s clear that the numbers are only going one way.

“The biggest annual rise in the numbers of vehicles are among those licensed by companies, which suggests the clear tax benefits given to company car drivers are beginning to stoke demand. It’s vital this continues, as in many cases the new company vehicles of today will be the ones appearing on the second-hand consumer market in three or more years from now.

“The figures also highlight the locations where drivers are most likely to see these cleanest cars – increasingly sporting green number plates – either being driven or parked up and charging.

“It’s important that the environmental and financial benefits afforded by the switch to electric cars are shared by drivers right across the country. Our analysis shows the extent to which the south and east of England currently dominate when it comes to the numbers that are currently in private hands, with London leading when it comes to the fastest growth in electric vehicles – something we’ve noticed when it comes to the volume of EV breakdowns our patrols have attended.

“Indeed, two of the three council areas that recorded a doubling in the numbers of vehicles between 2019 and 2020 were London boroughs, with the capital also having some of the highest concentrations of BEVs anywhere in the country.

“It’s also certainly the case that the numbers only tell part of the story. Cornwall and Wiltshire, for example, while having some of the highest numbers of BEVs are also two of the largest counties by area, so in reality there will be far fewer electric cars seen on the roads in these counties right now compared to other urban locations.

“Recent RAC research shows*** a growing number of UK drivers are planning on switching to an electric vehicle next time they change their cars – up from 3% in 2018 to 9% in 2020. But despite this, most (78%) still think that pure electric cars are too expensive compared to conventionally fuelled vehicles, prompting around half (53%) to say they’d like to see VAT on new electric cars either being cut or abolished entirely.

“The RAC is leading the way when it comes to supporting drivers in the switch to electric vehicles. An ever-increasing number of our patrol vans have built-in emergency mobile charging systems capable of giving an out-of-charge electric car enough power to be driven a short distance home or to a working chargepoint, while our All-Wheels-Up recovery system allows our patrols to safely rescue electric cars with no need for a flatbed.”

The RAC estimates that as of January 2021, there are now in the region of 213,000 battery electric vehicles in the UK, with more than 100,000 of these registered last year alone.****

For more information on the RAC’s services for drivers of electric vehicles, visit www.rac.co.uk/breakdown-cover/electric-car-breakdown-cover.

Top nations and regions for privately licensed battery electric vehicles as of end of September 2020, and year-on-year increase

Nation or regionPrivately licensed BEVs as of Q3 2019Privately licensed BEVs as of Q3 2020% increase year-on-year Share of all BEVs licensed in the UK as of Q3 2020
South East11,76017,82051.5%20.7%
London8,50313,60560.0%15.8%
East of England6,2569,55552.7%11.1%
South West6,0819,35153.8%10.9%
Scotland4,5957,06953.8%8.2%
North West4,3636,65552.5%7.7%
West Midlands3,9195,93251.4%6.9%
East Midlands3,4825,27451.5%6.1%
Yorkshire & Humber3,0264,72556.1%5.5%
Wales1,7312,61651.1%3.0%
North East1,6782,29236.6%2.7%
Northern Ireland9931,21922.8%1.4%
TOTAL†56,39386,130  

† Totals include additional small numbers of vehicles listed as ‘region/country unknown’ or ‘vehicle under disposal’

Locations with the fastest growth in privately licensed battery electric vehicles as of end of September 2020, and year-on-year increase

Local authorityQ3 2019Q3 2020Difference% change y-o-y
Barking and Dagenham^5211260115.4%
Waltham Forest^8917990101.1%
Bolsover285628100.0%
Newham^811607997.5%
Eden32623093.8%
Pembrokeshire751436890.7%
Eastbourne41783790.2%
Bolton911738290.1%
Sutton^13825812087.0%
Hackney^13024211286.2%

^ indicates local authority is a London borough


Locations with the greatest number of privately licensed battery electric vehicles as of end of September 2020, and year-on-year increase

Local authorityQ3 2019Q3 2020Difference% change y-o-y
Barnet^8671,23536842.4%
Wiltshire7111,07536451.2%
Westminster^62791929246.6%
Cornwall62689927343.6%
Camden^51278126952.5%
Kensington and Chelsea^52377525248.2%
Leeds53076623644.5%
Edinburgh City48975927055.2%
Cheshire East49575726252.9%
Birmingham40866425662.7%

Budget ‘does not represent fair funding for local government’

Scotland’s Council Leaders have restated their view that the Scottish Budget as it currently stands does not represent fair funding for Local Government.

Commenting ahead of the final decision on the Scottish Budget next week Councillor Gail Macgregor, COSLA Resources Spokesperson, said:  “Our ask of Scottish Government throughout the Budget process for this year was to give Scottish Local Government the fair funding and flexibility it deserves to be able to deliver the essential services that we provide to communities.

“The settlement for 2021-22, as it stands, does very little to address years of cuts to our core funding – in fact, once all Scottish Government commitments are taken into account, the increase offered is less than 1 percent (0.9% increase on last year’s base).

“This comes on top of years where Local Government has seen no increase at all. Since 2013-14, Scottish Government has seen a 3.1% increase in its revenue funding (real terms) – this is in contrast to a 2.4% reduction for Local Government over the same period.

“A key part of flexibility for Councils is to have their democratic right to determine their own council tax rates in their own areas respected.  Sadly the Scottish Government have not listened to us this year but Scotland’s Council Leaders have restated their view that councils should have the right to determine the level of council tax for their own areas without facing penalties in future years.”

Councillor Macgregor continued:  “In light of the current offer of £90m for authorities that agree to freeze the council tax this year (2021/22), Council Leaders were clear that COSLA should continue to press for this amount to be baselined into the Local Government Settlement.

“Council Leaders also expressed their continued concern about the proposed levels of core capital funding for the next five years. It will severely restrict the ability of councils to invest locally and drive recovery from the Covid19 pandemic. We would ask that Scottish Government thinks again about Local Government’s capital grant ahead of a final decision on Tuesday.”

Assault on Boswall Parkway: Police release CCTV images

Police have released images of a man they wish to speak to as they believe he may be able to assist with an investigation into an assault in Pilton last summer.

The incident took place on Boswall Parkway around 8pm on Tuesday 4 August 2020 and left a man with a facial injury.

The suspect is described as a white male, aged 35 to 45 years old, between 5’10 and 6ft, of medium build. He had short dark hair and was wearing a two tone jacket with a zip across the front, and dark trousers.

Detective Constable Zaira Marker from Corstorphine CID said: “We believe the man in the images may be able to help with our ongoing investigation. We are appealing for him, or anyone who may know him, to make contact with us as soon as possible.

”Anyone with any information can call Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident number 3381 of 4 August 2020, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

PEP rises to the COVID challenge

Pilton Equalities Project (PEP) is a member of The Edinburgh Community Transport Operators Group (ECTOG).

With the support of EVOC, ECTOG has put together a report on the services we have all provided during the COVID pandemic.

You can read the report here (or see below):

https://www.evoc.org.uk/…/2021/03/ECTOG-Report-FINAL1.pdf

Here at PEP, we’ve been active in the North West Edinburgh area, serving the community right from the start of the pandemic. You can see what we’ve been up to in the image above.

Well done, everyone!

Morrisons meal deal makes weekends special

  • The Best Dine in for Two Meal Deal includes a main, side, dessert and drink for just £12
  • One of the best value meal deals on the market
A box of food Description automatically generated with low confidence
A picture containing container, tray Description automatically generated
A bottle of wine Description automatically generated with medium confidence
Website Description automatically generated

This month, Morrisons is helping customers upgrade their weekend dinners with its The Best Dine in for Two deal. The meal deal includes a choice of main, side, dessert and drink for just £12; one of the best value on the market.

While we’re still unable to eat out at restaurants, the meal deal features some fantastic options that will give shoppers something extra to smile about. From mains like The Best Shorthorn Steak Pie or The Best Vegan Moussaka, to sides including The Best Maris Piper Chunky Chips and The Best Carrot & Kale Medley. 

And It doesn’t end there. Finish off with a tempting pudding such as The Best Belgian Chocolate Brownie Puddings or The Best Salted Caramel Curl Profiteroles. The drinks options include a bottle of The Best Prosecco DOC, or even four bottles of Birra Moretti Lager.

Gemma Everson at Morrisons comments: “Now more than ever customers are looking to make the most of weekend dinners at home.

“The Best Dine in for Two meal deal includes some of our top products for a special night in and caters to different dietary options. Most importantly, we’re delighted to be able to offer all these great-tasting options for a fantastic price.”  

Morrisons The Best Dine in for Two meal deal is available to purchase in stores or online: 1 Main, 1 Side, 1 Dessert and 1 Drink for £12.

Full list of options below:

MAINS (Choose 1)
Shorthorn Steak Pie£5.00
Vegan Moussaka£5.00
Salmon en Croute£5.50
British Rump Steak With Peppercorn Butter£7.00
Lasagne Al Forno£5.00
Pesto Stuffed Chicken Wrapped In Proscuitto£5.50
Chicken Breast With Mushroom Butter£5.50
Vegan Falafel Parcel With Harissa Veg Topping£5.50
Mediterranean Cod Fillet With Pesto Crumble£5.00
SIDES (Choose 1) 
Maris Piper Chunky Chips£2.30
Petis Pois£2.50
Carrots and Kale Medley & Orange Dressing£2.50
Parmentier Potatoes£2.50
Ciabatta Bread Sticks£2.00
Creamy Garlic Mushrooms£3.00
Minted New Potatoes£2.50
DESSERTS (Choose 1) 
Belgian Chocolate Brownie Puddings (vegan)£2.50
Salted Caramel Profiteroles£3.00
Twin Tartes Au Citron£3.00
Dulce De Leche Cheesecake Wedge£3.00
Creme Brûlée£2.50
DRINKS (Choose 1) 
Birra Moretti Lager Beer£5.00
The Best Prosecco DOC£7.00
Heineken 0.0 Alcohol Free Beer£4.50
Pinot Grigio Rose£7.25
South African Sauvigon Blanc£6.75
Shiraz£7.25
J2O Apple & Raspberry Juice£4.00
J2O Orange & Passion Juice£4.00
J2O Apple & Mango Juice£4.00
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar£4.75
Diet Coke£4.75

Bus incident: youth charged

A 15-year-old youth has been charged in relation to damaging a bus and injuring a bus driver in Craigmillar. The incident happened on Tuesday (2nd March) on Niddrie Mains Road after an item was thrown at a moving bus.

Chief Inspector Murray Tait of Leith Police Station said: “Dealing with disorder and antisocial behaviour is a priority for the police in Edinburgh.

“Following our appeal I would like to thank our local community for their assistance with this matter and ask that parents and carers speak to their children and young people about the potential dangers of this kind of behaviour.” 

Bubbles: New support is ‘great news for stressed parents’

Campaigner Rebecca Bell is welcoming the news that the First Minister has told parliament that parents with a baby under the age of one can have assistance with childcare, using a new exemption for indoor visiting.

Rebecca Bell, the mental health spokesperson for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, had launched a petition to allow for ‘bubbles’ for those with newborns, like they have in place in England and Wales.

She was prompted to do so after speaking to her friends with children in Leith, and also during phone canvassing in recent months, she and other volunteers kept hearing how much parents were struggling.

Speaking after the announcement at Parliament, Rebecca said: “We’ve been campaigning for this since last year, so I’m delighted to hear that finally parents with a baby can get some much needed support in their homes.

“This is so vitally important for the mental health and wellbeing of new families, but also for the development of these babies to interact with other people. Most of these children were born during lockdown.

“However, I will continue to stay in touch with those I’ve spoken to, to see if this restriction edit goes far enough. My petition called for a full baby bubble – like families in England have enjoyed since the start of December, and since last month in Wales.

“What the Scottish Government are introducing is not quite the same. As we ease restrictions there may still be a case for allowing bubbles, such as the one we (rightly) offer here to single parents. I believe a bubble is a more stable arrangement for planning childcare in the next few months, so I will be monitoring the success of this policy closely.

“Now we have eclipsed a year into this pandemic, it’s easy to see why fatigue has set in and mental health has been put under strain. Anyone with a newborn is sleep deprived, and around 1 in 10 new mothers experience post-natal depression, and this condition can also affects fathers too, of course.

“Any parent knows that you need lots of energy for it, and just having someone able to come into your house to hold your baby so you can eat some food, or shower can make a huge difference to your wellbeing. That’s why so many I’ve spoken to are really struggling to juggle parenthood and working from home.

“I’m so glad we finally got some movement from the Government on this, I just wish they’d done so sooner.”

Full steam ahead! £4.75 million for Granton Station transformation

The Edwardian B-listed former Granton Station, set in the heart of the city’s planned new sustainable Granton Waterfront district, is to be restored by the Council at a cost of up to £4.75m.

The council’s Finance and Resources Committee yesterday appointed Kier Construction Ltd to carry out the work. 

The project will be part-funded through Scottish Government regeneration capital grant funding and town centre funding.  The latter was previously agreed by the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Committee in June 2019 and by Council in November 2020.

Work will commence to bring the historic former Granton Station building back into use by early 2022 as a high-quality creative workspace and the derelict land in front of the building will once again be used as a public square for community events and recreation to be enjoyed by residents and visitors to the area.

The station site is part of Granton Waterfront, a key sustainable £1.3bn regeneration project for Scotland, which will make a significant contribution to Edinburgh’s target to become a net zero carbon city by 2030.  

Work has already begun to provide around 450 homes for sale and affordable rent at Western Villages and at the end of last year construction firm Hart Builders was also appointed to begin work to design around 150 brand new affordable homes at the former Silverlea care home site in the area.

Cllr Rob Munn, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “Granton Station is an important link to the rich industrial heritage of the area, and I look forward to seeing it back in use once again.

“As it did in Edwardian times, the building will serve the local community but now as a vibrant and modern business hub with open public space outside for everyone to enjoy.

“The project will provide jobs while being constructed and long after completion, as a new enterprise hub generating local employment opportunities for the area and our citizens throughout Edinburgh.”

Cllr Cammy Day, Depute Leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Regenerating Granton Waterfront is no longer just a vision. Spades will soon go in the ground to turn this historic building into a gateway for one of Scotland’s newest sustainable districts for people to enjoy for decades to come.

“With work progressing well on two affordable housing sites and plans underway to illuminate the former gas holder in the area with Edinburgh College, we’re making great progress to build a sustainable new district where people will be proud to live, work and visit.

“And we’re speaking to the local community to make sure the new district enhances and blends well into what is already a well-established area surrounding the site.”

Money Map: Help Yourself

The Money Map tool offers free, instant support and tips for those in Edinburgh feeling the financial impact of the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes to everyday life and for many, it has impacted both personal and household finances.

Whether you’ve suffered a job loss, are self-employed, on furlough or are facing reduced hours or income, it’s a particularly challenging and uncertain time.

To help people face these challenges, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), supported by the Scottish Government, has created the Money Map tool.

The free, anonymous and easy to use online tool is a one-stop shop of financial support options. It brings together the many ways that people can maximise their money from benefits and grants to budgeting and tips on reducing bills such as council tax. It provides any related eligibility information and signposts people to websites where they can get more information or apply.

One of the main functions of the tool is to help minimise the stress of trying to find support through search engine browsing by bringing all the information and support together in one place. It includes a customised list function so users can save the support options that are of most use to them so that they can make sure they’re maximising their money as much as possible.

The Money Map tool contains helpful guidance for everyone, no matter their financial situation.

Myles Fitt, Head of Financial Health at Citizens Advice Scotland, runs through just some of the ways the Money Map tool can help you maximise your money at this time:

·       Make sure you’re not overpaying on bills – A simple way to reduce your monthly outgoings can be by performing a simple price comparison on your bills, such as energy payments. The Money Map tool signposts users to websites that will help you discover what you can save by switching providers.

·       Set a budget – This can be on a monthly, weekly or even fortnightly basis to suit your needs. A budget can help you get a true picture of your money and plan for the future. Money Map can point you to helpful resources for setting a budget, which can help you work out what you need and where possible savings could be made.

·       Check you’re using the correct tax code – Make sure you check your current tax code to ensure you’re not paying too much in relation to your current financial situation. For example, if you are on a lower income, you are entitled to a different tax code and required to pay less tax. Money Map highlights how you can check your tax code and any entitlement to tax reliefs.

·       Gain access to all the grants you’re entitled to – Grants enable families, students and individuals to boost their income or reduce the cost of everyday payments such as fuel payments or transport costs. Money Map points you in the right direction to access these.

·       Check to see what Council Tax you should pay – By checking if you’re exempt from council tax or eligible to pay less, you can save money on paying this bill. The Money Map tool will point you in the direction of where you can check your eligibility. Last year, support from the CAB service saved clients an average of £380 in council tax payments.

·       Ensure you receive benefits you’re entitled to – The Money Map tool will guide people to the appropriate online benefit checkers to make sure users are getting all the support they’re entitled to which can help meet specific needs like housing, childcare, disability and illness payments.

·       Make the most of the Money Map tool – It’s there to help you. By using the bespoke list function, users can save the support options that are of most use to them so they can ensure they maximise their money as much as possible.

Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “COVID-19 has impacted many people’s incomes and we know financial uncertainty is a source of worry for many people.

“This Money Map Tool provides information and support, helping people identify which benefits and grant support they may be entitled to. The Scottish Government is investing £330,000 to support the promotion of this online support service which signposts people to specific sites that can help them strengthen their financial position.

“The free, easy to use and anonymous website brings all information into one place, and can help people boost their income from sources such as grants or saving tips. I would encourage anyone concerned about money matters to use this service.”

Derek Mitchell, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Scotland, said: “The Citizens Advice network in Scotland has been helping people for over 80 years and we want to ensure people get the help they need in a way that suits them.

“That’s why we developed the Money Map tool. We know how frustrating it can be searching endlessly online for support that is suited for you, our tool rounds up all the most helpful online sources and signposts people to where they can access and activate relevant help.

“The tool is open for absolutely anyone who is looking to boost their income or cut their cost of living. Whether that’s through access to grants and benefits or through lower bills, our Money Map can point people in the right direction.”

No matter what your circumstance is in 2021, if you are looking to improve your financial situation, think Money Map. Visit moneymap.scot

Free, independent advice is also available locally at Granton Information Centre, who have continued to operate throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

Contact Granton Information Centre by telephone on 0131 551 2459 or 552 0458, or email info@gic.org.uk