Bolton is up against it in terms of its transition to electric vehicles (EVs) according to figures from the government and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

The borough is towards the bottom of the table for Greater Manchester for figures including the availability of public car chargers.

The GMCA's net zero target is 2038 for greenhouse gas emissions and electromobility, or e-mobility, is important as around 30 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions are from transport.

Bolton is up against it because there are around 24 public car chargers per 100,000 residents, the second lowest in the region, and around one in 10 of those without any off-street parking are within 300 metres of one of these public car chargers.

In Manchester, as a comparison, there are around 74 public car chargers per 100,000 residents, the second highest in the region, and around a third of those without any off-street parking are within 300 metres of one of these public car chargers.

There is a more positive picture for private car chargers, where the borough is mid-table, and since the summer there is no need to pay for a permit for charging cables across pavements. 

There is also a more positive picture on public transport as Bolton Bus Depot on Weston Street, Great Lever, is electrified and an increasing number of Bee Network buses are electrified. 

The taxi trade is behind as eight taxis out of 1,544 taxis are EVs but metro mayor Andy Burnham's Clean Air Plan includes a multi-million-pound Clean Taxi Fund and it is up for approval by the government after approval by the GMCA this month.

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: "As a council we are looking to increase the number of EV charging points across the borough as well as making EV charging points more accessible to houses with no off-street parking.

"In July we waived the cost of installation for residents to install the new methods of EV charging for on-street parking offered by external contractors.

"Once we have access to the government's Levy Control Framework we will be able to deliver a new programme of infrastructure from next year."

For information go to bolton.gov.uk/roads-pavements/electric-vehicle-charging.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.