Powys county council has ruled out immediate trials of pavement charging channels — sometimes called cable gullies — choosing instead to observe schemes elsewhere and await a firmer national approach.
Council cautious on emerging technology
Councillors and officers say the council’s current view is that the technology is still at the pilot stage and demand in this mainly rural county is presently low. Rather than duplicate work being carried out by other local authorities, Powys says it will monitor outcomes from existing trials to see whether the solution is both effective and appropriate for its communities.
The move follows interest from local members in developing a pilot. Cllr Ratcliffe, who also chairs the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, suggested his home town of Hay-on-Wye as an “excellent location” for testing the system and urged officers to consider how such a trial could be developed.
“Pavement charging channels are an emerging technology that can safely accommodate charging cables within the footway, reducing the risks associated with trailing cables while making electric vehicle ownership more affordable through access to domestic electricity tariffs.”
That view — that gullies can reduce trip hazards and make home charging possible from on-street parking — has been echoed in pilot schemes elsewhere, including in parts of England and in neighbouring Welsh councils which have already granted planning permission for such installations.
Practical considerations for Powys residents
Council officers told members that factors weighing against immediate trials in Powys include:
- Relatively low current demand for on-street charging in rural areas
- The availability of nearby councils’ pilot results to learn from
- The absence of a clear, consistent national policy or technical standard
Officials said the authority remains committed to supporting electric vehicle uptake through public charging infrastructure where it is needed, but for now prefers to learn from others’ experience rather than initiate local cross-pavement trials.
| Authority | Position |
|---|---|
| Powys County Council | Monitor pilots elsewhere; no immediate trials |
| Neighbouring councils | Some have approved planning for cable channels |
For residents considering electric vehicles, this means that while the council is not ruling out the technology in future, any rollout of pavement gullies in Powys is unlikely in the short term. Those interested in home charging options should continue to consider existing alternatives: private off-street chargers where feasible, and the fast-growing network of public charge points.
The council’s approach reflects a cautious, observation-first stance until pilots elsewhere produce clearer evidence on safety, effectiveness and how domestic tariff access can be secured without creating hazards on the footway.
