ELECTRIC scooters have been used more than 170,000 times since they were introduced in Basildon, but continue to divide opinion.

New figures charting the use of the e-scooters have been released as Baildon Council prepared to meet next week to debate their future uses in the town.

The e-scooter trial, run by Essex County Council and Spin, has been extended to run until at least November after initially launching in December 2020.

Basildon Council agenda’s show, to date there’s been 170,000 uses in Basildon by 10,700 riders.

However, the e-scooters are controversial with fears about safety.

Danny Lovey, 70, of Langdon Hills said: “The only reason I can see to keep extending it is due to a lack of evidence to show the success. It must mean the jury is still out and we’re waiting for a decision about how good these are.

“I do have mixed feelings and can see both sides, I know some worry about safety and them being a menace but they are helping young people get about.

“I also don’t think people fully understand what is happening with them and why they are left standing around.”

He said there should be a full decision soon rather than just extending the trial of the use.

Basildon Council is set to back the extension of the trial of the public-hired e-scooters until November.

The use of private e-scooters on public land is illegal.

Kerry Smith, leader of the Independent Group, says the only thing they are good for is the scrap heaps.

He said: “I am hoping we vote against this next week, they are nothing but a total menace. I can’t see anything positive about them. People use them dangerously and there’s rumours about some riders painting scooters not agreed in the trial orange to use them.

“The best thing for them is to recycle the metal and use it for something else.”

Initially, trials were expected to operate until October 31 last year, but the Department for Transport has extended the trial twice since – firstly to March 31 and then to November 30.

The Government says this is needed to collate more data due to the hit of Covid restrictions on transport.

A Spin spokesman said: "Spin has a very close working relationship with Essex Police and the local councils. To reiterate, Spin's e-scooters are GPS-enabled and therefore easy to track if police requests help with suspected criminal activity. Anyone who witnesses criminal activity should report it to the police immediately. 

"To remind the general public: Spin's scooters are only available to adults only (18+)  and who have a valid full or provisional driving licence so they are covered by insurance, just like any car and driver. If someone else other than the account holder is riding the e-scooter it will be uninsured.

"Both the rider and account holder will be liable for a £300 fine and 6 points on their driving licence. These are the only e-scooters in Essex that are legal to use on public roads"