On-Street EV Charging: What is currently Prohibited

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) from home can be convenient, but anything placed on a public pavement can create a trip hazard and obstruct people using the footway (including wheelchair users, people with prams, and those with visual impairments).

Tameside Council is currently looking at the possibility of piloting cross‑pavement (sometimes referred to as ’Gully') solutions. Until that policy and any pilot/scheme is in place, the following are not permitted on Tameside public highways (pavements/footways).

What is not allowed right now

Please do not:

• Trail an EV charging cable across the pavement, even temporarily.
• Use ad‑hoc cable covers, mats, ramps, or taped‑down protectors on the pavement.
• Cut into, drill, or install anything in the pavement/kerb yourself (or pay a contractor/third party to do it) to run a cable.
• Run a cable across the road or to a vehicle parked on the opposite side of the street.
• Attach cables to street furniture (e.g. lamp columns, signs, railings, trees) or leave cables/kit out when not actively charging.

If you do any of the above, you may be creating an obstruction and putting highways users at risk of injury. You will be asked to remove it.

Wilful obstruction of the highway is a criminal offence under section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 with penalties including fines and also imprisonment in extreme cases.

What you can do instead

• Use the nearest public chargepoints where available.
• If you think your area needs more public charging, you can request a charge point here: Request a charge point in your area
• We will update this page when an approved pilot approach for Cross Pavement Channels is in place.