OTLEY'S MP is calling for more charge points to be provided for electric cars.

Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) made the appeal in the House of Commons this week [IE WEEK ENDING NOV 3] during a debate on the Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill.

He said: "In order to stimulate the electric car market and ensure that we can move to a fully electric market, we will need a minimum density of electric charge points in residential and commercial areas."

Mr Sobel says he will be pursuing the issue when the bill comes to the Committee stage - and is also taking local action to tackle the large of charging points in the Otley and Yeadon areas.

He said: "In my constituency there is, as far as I am aware, only one charging point available for electric vehicles, which is slow and has limited access.

"Yet there are at least 21 charge points in the city centre.

“I have written to Otley’s Business Improvement District (BID) and Leeds City Council about improving our infrastructure by installing electric vehicle (EV) charging points in council car parks.

"A good network of EV charge points is vital as we seek to improve the quality of air in our local area, especially on the A660, and in Otley and the Wharfe Valley where pollution lingers.

"The future is electric and we must prepare for it."