A LEISURE complex is to install the first charging point for electric cars in the Ribble Valley as the borough council examines introducing them on its property in the future.

The Best Western Mytton Fold Hotel and associated golf course will offer free power for customers and allow other ‘green’ motorists to use it for a small charge.

The move was enthusiastically backed by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans who hoped to see many more in his constituency and across East Lancashire soon.

Borough chief executive Marshal Scott, who has visited the hotel to see the new equipment, confirmed the council was looking at installing chargers on its car parks, as Bolton announced in May.

Mytton Fold co-owner Barbara Bryan said: “We have always tried to be a ‘green’ hotel and this seems a natural step to take.

“We are being supported by the Zero Carbon Trust. It’s going to cost around £1,500 to install and we hope to have it operating within weeks.

“The hotel has a lot of environmentally conscious customers who have asked about this.

“The new point will be free for people using our premises and to other motorists for a small charge.

“This is something we want to do as a ‘green’ business. It’s something our customers want and helps keep the environment in the Ribble Valley green and beautiful.”

The move follows Charnock Richard service station on the M6 near Chorley installing charging points in November 2011. Mr Evans said: “This is an absolutely brilliant move. It will be the first electric car charging point in the Ribble Valley and hope it is the first of many.

“I think electric cars will multiply in the future as motorists get more environmentally conscious and we need a network of charging points to support them as soon as possible.”

Mr Scott said: “The council supports the principle of greener energy and this initiative at the Mytton Fold Hotel is one we will be supporting.

“The cost of extending electric car charging facilities to council car parks has been examined, but is currently too expensive."

It costs just over 1p a mile for electric vehicles, compared to 15p in a petrol car at today’s prices.

Earlier this month, Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle backed electric cars as the future of motoring.