A north-east town could take a major step towards reducing its carbon footprint by introducing new electric vehicle charging stations in car parks.
The scheme, proposed for two locations in Banff, will first have to pass the approval of local area councillors.
Aberdeenshire Council want to install the power points at Low Street’s St Mary’s car park and the Trinity car park in Castle Street.
The scheme would be funded by a £120,000 grant from the Scottish Government’s Plugged in Places scheme which encourages electric car use.
It was earmarked by the council’s infrastructure services committee in May last year for charging points across the north-east.
Last night, chairman of the Banff and Buchan area committee, Councillor John Cox, said the project had pros and cons.
“My main concern is the location of the one in St Mary’s carpark. It is right in the middle and totally inappropriate,” he said.
“It’s a chicken and egg situation. You can’t encourage people to buy those type of vehicles if there are no charging points, so there is some logic in providing them.”
The local authority already provides charging points in Inverurie and Peterhead.
There are further plans to install facilities in Banchory, Ellon, Frasebrurgh, Huntly, Peterhead, Stonehaven and Turriff.
In March, it was estimated that just 0.06% of households in the Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire council areas had an electric car or a plug-in hybrid.
The total – about 130 – is still four times larger than the predicted number in the region a year ago.
A spokeswoman for the council said it would not be commenting on active planning applications.