CHARD Town Council has taken the first step towards having a charging point for electric cars.

Following a motion from councillor Amanda Broom, it was agreed the council would “support, in principal, the installation of a fast (four hour) EV charging point”.

The council will provide a one off payment, estimated to be around £700, which will be match funded by South Somerset District Council.

The installation is subject to the town council agreeing with a SSDC feasibility study.

Cllr Cathie Morrison said at the full town council meeting on Monday: "Chard seems to be getting on the map with green policies. We are very forward thinking.

"The number of elecric cars has risen greatly and it is going to be the way to go.

"We should carry on being a pioneering town, giving people something else to come to Chard for."

If the project goes ahead, SSDC will be repsonsible for paying for the installation of the point and then Chard Town Council will pay for the point itself and the maintenance of it.

There are currently five possible location for the EV charging point being investigated.

Cllr Broom will be attending the SSDC carbon meeting today to try and start further investigation into the viability of an EV charging point in the town.