The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed strong support for the proposed provision of an EV charging hub to include HGV EV charging bays, next to Creagh Roundabout in Toomebridge.

The planning application, which is at consultation stage, was lodged on July 17 by TSA Planning, Belfast, on behalf of Heron Storage Development Ltd, St. Patrick’s Street, Draperstown.

The proposed plans also include improved vehicular accesses from Hillhead Road and Creagh Business Park and all associated site works including amenity pod, boundary fencing, canopies, lighting columns and closed-circuit TV columns.

In all, the applicant is proposing to install 25 EV charging units and all associated electrical equipment at that location.

placeholder image — The proposed charging hub next to Creagh Roundabout, would cater for both cars and heavy goods vehicles. Image: Mid Ulster planning portal

In correspondence to Mid Ulster District Council’s Planning Department, RHA Head of Policy, Christopher Ashley pointed to a real need for more HGV EV charging points: “I write to confirm our support for the planning application by Heron Energy to install electric HGV charging at their EV battery hub and battery energy storage facility in Toome.

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“The RHA is a trade body representing nearly 9,000 hauliers and a growing coach membership of over 200 members across the United Kingdom.

“Between them, they operate almost 250,000 vehicles. Within Northern Ireland, we have 200 members.

“With HGVs contributing around 16 per cent of CO2 emissions from UK domestic transport, there is an urgent need to reduce emissions.

“To help operators plan their decarbonisation investments, the UK Government has set two targets where, from 2035, sales of new diesel HGVs weighing under 26 tonnes will stop, with sales of all new diesel HGVs stopping from 2040.

“The technologies expected to replace diesel HGVs are battery electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Currently, there are over 1,100 registered electric HGVs on UK roads out of 495,000 UK-registered HGVs overall.

“A key barrier preventing uptake of these vehicles is the lack of energy infrastructure and subsequent charging points to power these vehicles.

“Growing the network of available public charging points for electric HGVs is therefore essential to ensure that the planned targets for stopping the sale of new diesel HGVs are met.

“We therefore have no hesitation in supporting the planning application by Heron Energy to install electric HGV charging points at their site in Toome.”