ELECTRIC car charging points could be installed in a council car park in a bid to attract visitors to the town.

Halstead Town Council clerk Mike Murkin has come up with a scheme which he says would cost less than £6,000 and put facilities on a par with those in Sudbury.

He said: “I’m putting it forward as a proposal to get a charging point in the Chapel Street car park, to facilitate the charging of electric cars.

“Hopefully it will encourage people to come in to the town on their journey.

“They are becoming more and more popular.

“When you look at the map of where charging points are, there is nothing between Sudbury and Braintree.

“There is very little in Sudbury and that’s at the new health centre – and that’s so new it’s not even on the maps.”

Mr Murkin said he has obtained quotes from unit supplier Chargemaster and electricity supplier UK Power Networks.

He had also sourced quotes for the cost of the installation.

The unit itself would cost £2,970, UK Power Networks will charge £1,399, while a protective guard, trench and groundworks would cost a total of £1,330.

Mr Murkin said: “I don’t think it’s too bad, it’s good value for money.

“I ran it past one or two of the councillors and they have been en- couraging about it, so we will just have to see.

“It’s just something I think will attract visitors to the town, so hopefully the traders will be sup- portive.”

The unit would allow two cars to be charged at once.

The proposed scheme will be discussed at a town council meeting on Monday evening.

There is already an electric car charger in George Yard Shopping Centre car park in Braintree.

Cars can be charged in 20-30 minutes, with a flat rate fee of £5 payable for each charge.

However, that scheme is on the Charge Your Car network, which costs £20 for annual membership.

The nearest Chargemaster points are in Colchester and the Chelmer Valley park and ride.