Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is wholly unprepared for the roll out of electric cars. Our region lacks the electric car infrastructure required. The new £450 million local electric vehicle infrastructure (LEVI) scheme for all local authorities in the UK is pie in the sky. As Mayor, Matt will fight for as much of this money as possible. He will immediately introduce a significant charge on any private providers that make money out of any tax-payer funded infrastructure.
As Mayor, Councillor Relf will NOT introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in any part of Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham or Nottinghamshire. Instead, he will prioritise improving public transport infrastructure and provide incentives to business to reduce car use amongst employees.
Cllr Relf said, “Reducing emissions remain a huge challenge but our region doesn’t suffer anywhere near the amount of emissions that Londoners do. The ULEZ, introduced by former Conservative Mayor of London Boris Johnson is not the answer to reducing emissions in the East Midlands. For generations, our politicians have failed this region by not ensuring key transport infrastructure projects are done. That’s the real reason why car usage is higher than the national average. The biggest single thing we can do as a region to reduce emissions is provide a public transport system fit for purpose.”
Matthew as Mayor will also ensuring that our planning system is future proofed. He will insist that all future planning applications ensure homes are charge point ready and have rain water capture for flushing toilets and that any new industrial buildings have solar panels.