Some “incredibly insensitive” electric car charging points will be removed from a Highbury street because they take up too much pavement space.

Source London installed the equipment in Battledean Road last month but neighbours complained they were noisy and dominated patches of pavement.

Islington’s one-woman opposition, Cllr Caroline Russell (Green, Highbury East), has campaigned for the chargers to be removed.

“They have taken on board that the Battledean Road location is too tight for pedestrians to get past,” she told the Gazette. “But I’m concerned they will just be moved to another location.

“The council is making a mistake and we are seeing pedestrian space taken over for the purpose fuelling vehicles, which is a really bad thing. It was incredibly insensitive to install them in the first place.”

Cllr Russell added: “We do need to provide electric charging stations but it cannot be at the expense of space for pedestrians.”

Last month the Gazette ran a story highlighting the case of Jane Howell, a blind woman who lives in Battledean Road, who said the boxes “could be dangerous” for her to navigate around.

The council plans to deliver 100 charging points over the next year and install 400 devices by 2022.

Cllr Claudia Webbe, Islington transport and environment chief, said: “London is on the brink of an air-quality emergency, with traffic pollutants linked to health problems that are shortening the lifespans of residents.

“Islington is committed to making charging easier and more practical for residents as well as enabling more sustainable electric taxis, private hire vehicles and commercial vehicles to recharge during the working day.”

She added an audit of charging points across the borough had already been under way prior to Cllr Russell’s involvement. The charger in question is being removed because it did not provide 1.2m of footway clearance, the council’s existing minimum requirement.

But, a spokesperson added, Islington will continue to install electric chargers across the borough because they help combat London’s high pollution levels.

Source London was launched by Boris Johnson, the then mayor of London, in 2011. It is owned by French transport giants, Bolloré.