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Parking fees linked to emissions | Parking fees linked to emissions |
(10 minutes later) | |
The cost of residents' parking permits could be linked to the emissions their car produces, under plans from one London borough council. | The cost of residents' parking permits could be linked to the emissions their car produces, under plans from one London borough council. |
The Liberal Democrat council in Richmond, south-west London, hopes to make owners of gas-guzzling vehicles pay more to park outside their homes. | |
The owner of two high-emission cars could pay £750 a year for parking, compared with the £200 they pay now. | The owner of two high-emission cars could pay £750 a year for parking, compared with the £200 they pay now. |
But it would cost nothing to park environmentally friendly cars. | But it would cost nothing to park environmentally friendly cars. |
The BBC's environment correspondent Roger Harrabin said the new council was keen to reduce emissions. | The BBC's environment correspondent Roger Harrabin said the new council was keen to reduce emissions. |
"Leafy Richmond is one of Britain's most affluent boroughs. | "Leafy Richmond is one of Britain's most affluent boroughs. |
"Its homes are among the highest producers in Britain of the greenhouse gas CO2. | "Its homes are among the highest producers in Britain of the greenhouse gas CO2. |
"The new Liberal Democrat council is trying to put a stop to that." | "The new Liberal Democrat council is trying to put a stop to that." |
Higher congestion charge | Higher congestion charge |
If the plans are approved, the cost of parking the most polluting vehicles would rise from £100 to £300. | |
Those with more than one car would have to pay 50% more for extra permits - thus a household owning two high-emissions cars could pay £300 for the first, and £450 for the second, or £750 in total. | Those with more than one car would have to pay 50% more for extra permits - thus a household owning two high-emissions cars could pay £300 for the first, and £450 for the second, or £750 in total. |
We're very hopeful that other councils will follow suit. We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this. David Trigg, Richmond councillor | We're very hopeful that other councils will follow suit. We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this. David Trigg, Richmond councillor |
Councillor David Trigg, Richmond Council cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking, said he hoped the initiative would be widely copied. | Councillor David Trigg, Richmond Council cabinet member for traffic, transport and parking, said he hoped the initiative would be widely copied. |
"Rather than being just a space-orientated exercise, we are now targeting higher-emission vehicles for a higher charge. | "Rather than being just a space-orientated exercise, we are now targeting higher-emission vehicles for a higher charge. |
"We're very hopeful that other councils will follow suit. We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this, and we would certainly hope that others do." | "We're very hopeful that other councils will follow suit. We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this, and we would certainly hope that others do." |
Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association pointed out that the measure would also affect families with larger saloon cars. | Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association pointed out that the measure would also affect families with larger saloon cars. |
He said it was a "money-making exercise" but acknowledged it may slowly help encourage people to buy different vehicles. | He said it was a "money-making exercise" but acknowledged it may slowly help encourage people to buy different vehicles. |
Anyone trying to drive a high-emissions vehicle from Richmond into central London may also face an additional cost for the city's congestion charge. | Anyone trying to drive a high-emissions vehicle from Richmond into central London may also face an additional cost for the city's congestion charge. |
In July, it emerged that the charge for drivers of such cars could rise to £25 - three times the current charge. | In July, it emerged that the charge for drivers of such cars could rise to £25 - three times the current charge. |
London Mayor Ken Livingstone has said he wants a sliding scale, with lower charges for low-emission vehicles and higher charges for some urban 4x4 vehicles, dubbed "Chelsea tractors". | London Mayor Ken Livingstone has said he wants a sliding scale, with lower charges for low-emission vehicles and higher charges for some urban 4x4 vehicles, dubbed "Chelsea tractors". |
Mr Livingstone said if his plans got wider backing, discounts could be in place by 2008, and higher charges by 2010. | Mr Livingstone said if his plans got wider backing, discounts could be in place by 2008, and higher charges by 2010. |
National policies | National policies |
Delegates at the Lib Dem conference in September approved plans to use new taxes on gas-guzzling cars and aviation to pay for income tax cuts. | Delegates at the Lib Dem conference in September approved plans to use new taxes on gas-guzzling cars and aviation to pay for income tax cuts. |
Sir Menzies said he wanted to focus on "taxing pollution, not people". | Sir Menzies said he wanted to focus on "taxing pollution, not people". |
The Tory leader David Cameron has also said he would offer incentives for green car use. | The Tory leader David Cameron has also said he would offer incentives for green car use. |
And in the Budget, Chancellor Gordon Brown raised road taxes for the most polluting vehicles, with the worst offenders now attracting a vehicle excise duty of £210. | And in the Budget, Chancellor Gordon Brown raised road taxes for the most polluting vehicles, with the worst offenders now attracting a vehicle excise duty of £210. |