Opposition Claims Ealing Policy on EVs is Inequitable
Says forcing use of expensive charging adds to cost-of-living issues
Cllr Gary Malcolm by an EV charging point
October 24, 2025
Ealing Liberal Democrats have called on the borough’s Labour administration to reconsider its approach to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The opposition is arguing that current policies fail to support residents without private driveways and impose unnecessary costs during a time of economic hardship.
At a Council meeting on Tuesday 21 October, Opposition Leader Councillor Gary Malcolm pressed for clarity on whether Ealing Council would reverse its stance on EV charging gullies — pavement-integrated cable channels that allow residents to safely run wires from their homes to parked vehicles. These gullies enable access to household electricity rates, which are significantly cheaper than commercial charging points.
Ealing Council has so far favoured supplier-funded on-street chargers, which have been rolled out across the borough. While these installations come at no direct cost to the Council, the Liberal Democrats argue that the pricing model — set by private operators — makes charging prohibitively expensive for many residents. “It’s not equitable,” Cllr Malcolm said. “Residents are facing a cost-of-living crisis, and the Council should be helping them access cheaper electricity, not locking them into inflated tariffs.”
The Government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles currently offers a grant for pavement channel installations, with a deadline of at the end of this month. Malcolm criticised the Council for not applying, suggesting that the opportunity could be lost before the borough’s November budget is finalised.
Ealing Council has not responded to requests for comment on whether it intends to apply for the grant or reconsider its position on charging gullies.
The debate reflects wider tensions in Ealing’s EV strategy. In previous years, the borough has been praised for expanding public charging infrastructure, particularly in high-density areas. However, residents without off-street parking, a common situation in many parts of the borough where terraced housing predominates, have raised concerns about affordability and access.
Campaigners have also pointed to successful pilot schemes in other London boroughs, such as Brent and Camden, where pavement gullies have been trialled with positive feedback from residents and accessibility groups.
Cllr Malcolm said the Liberal Democrats support the transition to electric vehicles but want to see a “more equitable and cost-effective” rollout. “We’re not asking the Council to abandon public chargers,” he said. “We’re asking them to give residents more choice — especially when a government grant is available to help make it happen.”
Ealing Council has defended its decision not to proceed with an electric vehicle (EV) gully trial, stating that its priority is to provide lower-cost, widely accessible lamp column charging for all residents. Cabinet Member for Climate Action Paul Driscoll described this as a more equitable approach, arguing that private gullies would benefit only a small number of households and could still leave users reliant on public charging infrastructure.
The council has already installed over 1,000 EV charge points and secured funding for 1,000 more, with a target of 2,500 by 2030. Officials said the gully trial was paused to consider its impact on pavement safety and accessibility, particularly in built-up areas without private driveways. They also noted that the high cost of installation and maintenance—estimated at £3,150 per household without grants—would limit uptake.
While the council is not ruling out future consideration of gully systems, it plans to develop a broader kerbside strategy next year and will consult residents as part of that process. In the meantime, it will continue to monitor trials in other boroughs.
The issue is expected to resurface ahead of the borough’s budget discussions in November.
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