Electric charging points and outdoor cinemas could be coming to a car park near you!

A recommendation to introduce evening and Sunday charges to car parks in East Devon, including in Axminster, will be given further consideration.

East Devon District Council's Car Parking Task and Finish Forum (TAFF) proposed introducing a night time flat rate of £1, and for the introduction of Sunday parking charges in Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Axminster.

But the recommendation was sent back for further consideration by the Cabinet last week, after full council recently decided to delay a 20 per cent charge rise in other East Devon car parks until April 2022.

However, the Cabinet did back proposals from the TAFF which could see car parks across the district used as outdoor cinemas, for farmers markets or car boot sales, with the aim of providing exciting services that residents and visitors can enjoy, as well as generating extra income.

They also agreed to plans to install electric vehicle charging points across seven car parks in the district, to look at whether an area of some car parks could be considered for hiring out electric bicycles so residents and visitors could explore the local area, and to trial contactless machines to be installed in some car parks to minimise the need for residents to touch buttons while paying for parking.

An urgent Cabinet meeting will be arranged shortly for councillors to approve the details of the schemes, but the electric charging points will help reduce carbon emissions as the public moves to using more electric and hybrid vehicles, which supports EDDC's emergency climate declaration and action plan.

The installation of the charging points comes as part of the Innovate UK funded Exeter Rapid Charging Project to install and operate up to 30 further rapid charging units in EDDC's public car parks in 2021.

Drivers will need to pay to use the charging points but will not have to pay for parking as long as they don't exceed their charging time.

East Devon has not yet confirmed which of its car parks the electric charging points would be installed in, but local resident Simon Smith is hoping that Axminster will benefit from the scheme.

Taking to Facebook this week, Mr Smith said there was "huge financial incentive for our town" if Axminster can equip itself with ample, reliable electric car charging infrastructure.

He has encouraged Axminster residents to fill out a survey from Rapid Charing Exeter, which has rolled-out on-street, rapid electric vehicle chargers across Exeter and is now looking for other locations to expand into.

You can complete the survey by clicking here.

Commenting on EDDC's proposal for electric car charging points in car parks, Cllr Paul Hayward, portfolio holder for economy and assets, said: "This is very time sensitive and we would be loathed to miss this exceptional opportunity to put it mark on electric vehicle charging as a tourism and green initiative."

Cllr Paul Arnott, leader of the council, added that he wanted an urgent meeting this week with a report on the full details of the scheme, so they could take advantage of the major opportunity.

The Cabinet agreed that as a matter of urgency, a report seeking authority to participate in the Innovate UK funded Exeter Rapid Charging project to install and operate up to 30 rapid charging units in EDDC's public car parks this year be brought forward, and that Cabinet also approve the investigation of the options for providing electric bike charging points and the provision of an e-bike rental scheme.