BRUSHFORD is the first to benefit from a Somerset West and Taunton Council initiative to tackle the climate emergency.

A publicly accessible electric vehicle charging point, funded by a grant from the council (SWAT), has been installed at the parish hall.

SWAT has been offered all parish and town councils the opportunity to apply for grants from a one-off budget set aside to support community-led action to tackle the climate emergency.

The parish council made an application on behalf of Brushford Parish Hall Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

SWAT awarded £675 towards the cost of installing the charging point and the apparatus itself was secured through the charity Zero Carbon World, facilitated by West Somerset Together Forum 21.

Cllr Peter Pilkington, (pictured on the right), executive member for climate change, said: “The council is working towards becoming a carbon neutral district by 2030, and supports the Government’s Road to Zero Strategy which aims to make the UK the best place in the world to own an electric vehicle.

“I am delighted that the first charging point partially funded through a grant from the council, is available in this relatively remote village on the edge of the Exmoor National Park.

“As well as supporting our own efforts to tackle climate change this charging point will benefit our residents with electric vehicles and contribute to the local economy by encouraging visitors with electric vehicles to the area.”