Backing Bon VoyCharge: Let’s make EV travel easier across the UK

Signing the car at Wolstanton Retail Park EV Charging Point

On Thursday I had the privilege of becoming the first MP to sign the Bon VoyCharge campaign car, as it stopped off at the Wolstanton Retail Park EV charging station here in Newcastle-under-Lyme.

The campaign – led by the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) – is calling for better access to electric vehicle (EV) charging at the places people actually visit: tourist attractions, hotels, leisure facilities, and other destinations that too often get overlooked when it comes to EV infrastructure.

Bon VoyCharge is touring the country this summer to raise awareness of this issue, and I was proud to help kick off its journey. It’s starting right here in North Staffordshire, with its first stops being Alton Towers Resort and our own Wolstanton Retail Park – before heading to tourist spots and MP constituencies across the UK.

This is about more than cables and plugs. It’s about making it easier for people to choose cleaner transport, helping families travel with confidence, and supporting the tourism and hospitality sector that so many local jobs depend on.

Whether it’s visitors enjoying Brampton Museum, the Philip Astley Centre, or the Apedale Railway in Newcastle-under-Lyme, or holidaymakers heading to Alton Towers, we need to make sure that EV drivers can access visible, reliable and convenient charging options when they reach their destination.

I also joined a roundtable discussion at Alton Towers alongside Lilian Greenwood MP, the Government’s Minister for the Future of Roads, and partners from the EV and tourism sectors. We spoke about how we can work together to boost EV adoption while delivering for our communities and local economies.

I’ll be taking this campaign’s message back to Westminster and continuing to make the case for practical action to expand EV charging, reduce emissions, and future-proof our infrastructure.

It was a pleasure to welcome the Bon VoyCharge team to our patch – and I look forward to seeing the campaign car continue its journey across the country.