Councillors call for e-scooter trial to be scrapped

Independent councillors have called for a series of e-scooter trials to be scrapped.

The e-scooters have been operating in the districts of Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon and Braintree for four years.

Kerry Smith put forward a motion at Essex County Council - backed by fellow independent Chris Pond - calling for them to end and branded the vehicles "a complete menace".

Dott, the company running the trials in Essex, warned that ending the scheme could increase the usage of private illegal e-scooters.

Speaking after the full council meeting at County Hall, Smith said older residents with mobility issues frequently contacted him with complaints.

"[They] are just tearing along the pavement as if they own it," said Smith, who is the councillor for Basildon Westley Heights.

"They are a menace to the users and everyone around them".

He added that the vehicles were often seen "knocked over" and claimed they should not be parked on pavements.

• The trials have been operating for more than three years in England and within more than 30 different districts and boroughs
• E-scooters can be rented in these areas and have a speed limit in Essex of 12.5mph (20km/h)
• It costs £1 to unlock an e-scooter and 21p a minute to use in Essex. There are deals for regular use
• You have to be over-18 and hold a driver's licence to use one
• Trial e-scooters must be used on the road and in cycle lanes, but not pavements
• It is illegal to ride privately-owned e-scooters on public roads, with some exceptions, and illegal to ride them on pavements and cycle lanes

Liberal Democrat Stephen Robinson, who is also leader at Chelmsford City Council, told the meeting that e-scooters were a "potential solution" to urban traffic issues if "regulated properly".

"The widespread illegal use of non-licensed scooters have undermined the concept of e-scooters," he said.

Robinson claimed the company that ran the trials had failed "to enforce their own rules" - such as stopping under-18s riding them - and said Essex Police could improve its enforcement.

Conservative Lesley Wagland called for safety improvements and pointed to the police data that showed there were 230 crashes involving electric scooters and bikes in the past five years.

In October 2023, a man aged in his 20s died after a collision with a van in Canvey Island.

In a statement, Essex Police said "specific work" was taking place in the county to tackle illegally ridden e-scooters.

A spokesperson said officers had seized 200 e-scooters in Harlow to date, and officers in Basildon had been given specialised training.

The e-scooter trials in Essex are due to expire in June.

On Tuesday, councillors agreed upon an amended version of Smith's motion, which would give the district councils the chance to opt out of trials from the early part of next year.

Conservative Tom Cunningham, cabinet member for highways, said the administration was in the process of "reprocurement" and a five-week consultation would take place before the schemes were renewed.

A spokesperson for Dott said the trials provided a safe and sustainable transport option.

They claimed that more than three million recorded rides in Essex had replaced nearly 600,000 car trips and reduced carbon emissions by 110 tonnes.

Riders had to complete "in-app training", they continued.

"Stopping the trial could increase the use of illegal e-scooters, making the trial a solution rather than a problem," the statement added.

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