South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard and the Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) are funding a raft of new electric vehicle charging points across the region, to support the growing numbers of people choosing to drive electric cars.

SYMCA is investing £1.8m in the scheme and has been working with Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Councils to create more than 160 new charging points, which will be fully operational starting from April.

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “Right now pollution levels are too high in many of our communities, it’s particularly bad for our children’s health and it’s contributing to hundreds of premature deaths across the region.

“If we want to build a healthier and more sustainable South Yorkshire, and hit our Net Zero targets, then we need to make it easier for people to choose low emission ways of travelling around.

“That’s why we’re investing in electric buses and making it easier and safer to walk or wheel wherever you need to go. More people are choosing to buy electric vehicles so we’re also expanding the EV charging infrastructure to match our ambitions.”

The money for the charge points comes after SYMCA secured funding through the Northern Powerhouse and the Government’s Getting Building Fund and the North East and Yorkshire Net Zero Hub. The points will be maintained and operated by Blink Charging Ltd.

Some of the locations, such as Wellgate car park in Rotherham and Market Gate in Barnsley will also be operated by solar panels, making it a 100% renewable energy source to power vehicles.

Other locations were selected to help promote public transport use, including Park & Ride sites such as Meadowhall and Nunnery Square, as well as local authority car parks and both town and rural locations.

New EV charging point locations from 1 April

Barnsley: Church Street Car Park, Darton; John Street Car Park; Mark Street Car Park; Market Gate Car Park; West Road Car Park; Wombwell Park & Ride (from May).

Doncaster: Markets Car Park (existing site); John Street; Bridge Street; Askern Leisure Centre; The Dome Leisure Centre; Chamber Road Car Park; Civic Quarter Car Park; Adwick Park and Ride (Rail); Doncaster South Park and Ride (Bus); Bentley Park and Ride (Rail) (from June); Doncaster North Park and Ride (Bus); Kirk Sandall Park and Ride (Rail) (from June).

Rotherham: Wellgate Car Park, Douglas Street; Constable Lane Car Park, Dinnington; Drummond Street Car Park, Norfolk Street; Swinton Park and Ride (Rail) (from June).

Sheffield: Windrush Way; Fitzwilliam Street (city centre); Trinity Street (junction with Allen Street); Ebenezer Street (Acorn Street); Spooner Road (adjacent number 45); Lancing Road (junction with Charlotte Road); Stewart Road (junction with Sharrow Vale Road); Broomspring Lane; Albert Road; Shipton Street; Dore Park and Ride (Rail) (from July); Halfway Park and Ride (Tram); Malin Bridge Park and Ride (Tram); Meadowhall Park and Ride (Bus/Rail/Tram) (from July); Middlewood Park and Ride (Tram); Nunnery Square Park and Ride (Tram).