This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/6082690.stm
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 24 | Version 25 |
|---|---|
| 'Gas guzzlers' face parking hike | 'Gas guzzlers' face parking hike |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The cost of residents' parking permits could be linked to car emissions under plans being considered in one of the country's most affluent areas. | The cost of residents' parking permits could be linked to car emissions under plans being considered in one of the country's most affluent areas. |
| A Lib Dem council in London wants owners of gas-guzzling vehicles to pay more to park outside their homes. | A Lib Dem council in London wants owners of gas-guzzling vehicles to pay more to park outside their homes. |
| Richmond-upon-Thames residents with two high-emission cars could pay £750 a year, compared with £200 now, but the greenest cars would be exempt. | |
| The council hopes other authorities will be encouraged to follow its lead. | The council hopes other authorities will be encouraged to follow its lead. |
| Richmond's plan follows national and local schemes targeting emissions and congestion and comes after the Lib Dem conference approved proposals to use new taxes on gas-guzzling cars and airlines to pay for income tax cuts. | Richmond's plan follows national and local schemes targeting emissions and congestion and comes after the Lib Dem conference approved proposals to use new taxes on gas-guzzling cars and airlines to pay for income tax cuts. |
| See how the charges could work | See how the charges could work |
| If the plans are approved by the council's cabinet on 6 November, the cost of parking the most polluting vehicles in the parts of the borough subject to controlled zones would rise from £100 to £300. | |
| Hear what Richmond's residents have to say on the issueIn pictures | Hear what Richmond's residents have to say on the issueIn pictures |
| Those with more than one car would have to pay 50% more for extra permits. | Those with more than one car would have to pay 50% more for extra permits. |
| There would be a sliding scale of charges for parking permits based on the government's car tax bands. | There would be a sliding scale of charges for parking permits based on the government's car tax bands. |
| Band A, which would be free, would consist of electric cars. | |
| Cars in Band B, which include the Toyota Prius hybrid and the Renault Megane dCi 106 diesel, would be subject to a 50% reduction. | |
| Owners of vehicles covered by band C, like the Fiat Panda 1.2, would get a 10% discount on the cost of a parking permit. | Owners of vehicles covered by band C, like the Fiat Panda 1.2, would get a 10% discount on the cost of a parking permit. |
| TARGETING CO2 AND CONGESTION London congestion charge introduced in 2003. Now £8 a day. Extension due in 2007Road tolls on M6 since 2003. Priced between £1.50 and £7 depending on vehicle and timeNew car tax bands in 2006 budget. Top rate of £210 a year Road pricing. Pilot pay-as-you-drive schemes being developed Drivers are a 'soft target' | TARGETING CO2 AND CONGESTION London congestion charge introduced in 2003. Now £8 a day. Extension due in 2007Road tolls on M6 since 2003. Priced between £1.50 and £7 depending on vehicle and timeNew car tax bands in 2006 budget. Top rate of £210 a year Road pricing. Pilot pay-as-you-drive schemes being developed Drivers are a 'soft target' |
| But a parking permit would rise by 10% under band D, hitting drivers of the Nissan Micra 1.4, by 30% under band E and by 50% under band F - affecting owners of Ford Mondeo saloons and BMW 3 Series E90 diesels respectively. | But a parking permit would rise by 10% under band D, hitting drivers of the Nissan Micra 1.4, by 30% under band E and by 50% under band F - affecting owners of Ford Mondeo saloons and BMW 3 Series E90 diesels respectively. |
| The highest band, G, which includes the BMW X5 4.8 litre, the Jaguar X-type and the Renault Espace people carrier, would incur a 200% increase in the cost of a permit. | The highest band, G, which includes the BMW X5 4.8 litre, the Jaguar X-type and the Renault Espace people carrier, would incur a 200% increase in the cost of a permit. |
| "Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing the world today," said council leader Serge Lourie. | "Climate change is the single greatest challenge facing the world today," said council leader Serge Lourie. |
| "We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not happening, or that dealing with it is up to somebody else. | "We can no longer bury our heads in the sand and pretend that it is not happening, or that dealing with it is up to somebody else. |
| "And Richmond upon Thames is one of the highest CO2-emitting boroughs in London. | "And Richmond upon Thames is one of the highest CO2-emitting boroughs in London. |
| The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level Serge Lourie,Richmond Council leader Most brands 'failing on CO2' | |
| "For too long, it has been seen as a problem that only central governments or international organisations could address. | "For too long, it has been seen as a problem that only central governments or international organisations could address. |
| "The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level." | "The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level." |
| London mayor Ken Livingstone, who introduced the congestion charge in 2003, called for other councils in the city to adopt similar measures. | London mayor Ken Livingstone, who introduced the congestion charge in 2003, called for other councils in the city to adopt similar measures. |
| The Local Government Association's environment board chairman Paul Bettison said: "Local authorities up and down the country will be watching these proposals in Richmond with great interest." | The Local Government Association's environment board chairman Paul Bettison said: "Local authorities up and down the country will be watching these proposals in Richmond with great interest." |
| Motoring groups, however, suggested such a scheme would be unlikely to win widespread support as many ordinary motorists would be affected. | Motoring groups, however, suggested such a scheme would be unlikely to win widespread support as many ordinary motorists would be affected. |
| 'Right direction' | 'Right direction' |
| Richmond, which is to consult with residents and local businesses, hope to be able to implement the scheme by the new year. | Richmond, which is to consult with residents and local businesses, hope to be able to implement the scheme by the new year. |
| SEE THE PROPOSALS Proposed parking charge changes in Richmond [1.3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | SEE THE PROPOSALS Proposed parking charge changes in Richmond [1.3MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| 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. |
| "We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this, and we would certainly hope that others do," he told the BBC. | "We are the first in the country to implement a change such as this, and we would certainly hope that others do," he told the BBC. |
| Tony Bosworth, from Friends of the Earth, said the proposal was a "step in the right direction", but urged the government to increase road tax on gas-guzzlers. | Tony Bosworth, from Friends of the Earth, said the proposal was a "step in the right direction", but urged the government to increase road tax on gas-guzzlers. |
| Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association said the measure would impact on families with larger saloon cars as well as those driving smaller petrol hatchbacks. | Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association said the measure would impact on families with larger saloon cars as well as those driving smaller petrol hatchbacks. |
| But he acknowledged it might help to encourage people to buy different vehicles in the future. | But he acknowledged it might help to encourage people to buy different vehicles in the future. |
| National policies | National policies |
| Nationally, the government is proposing to bring in road charging to cut traffic levels, and tolls and congestion charging are being considered in many areas. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY It's just another tax aimed at a soft, easy target - the motorist C P, Midlands Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY It's just another tax aimed at a soft, easy target - the motorist C P, Midlands Send us your comments |
| London's congestion charge could rise to £25 in 2010 for drivers of high-emissions vehicle - three times the current cost. | |
| The Tory leader David Cameron has said he would offer incentives for green car use. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The Commons environmental audit committee has recommended vehicle excise for the most polluting cars should be £1,800, about nine times the existing rate. | The Commons environmental audit committee has recommended vehicle excise for the most polluting cars should be £1,800, about nine times the existing rate. |
| PROPOSED PARKING CHARGES BY CAR TYPE BAND CO2g/km FIRST PERMIT SECOND PERMIT EXAMPLE (PETROL) EXAMPLE (DIESEL) A Up to 100 Free Free Honda Insight Smart diesel B 101-120 -50% (£50) 50% increase on first (£75) Toyota Prius 1.5, Peugeot 107 1.0 Citroen C2 1.4, Ford Fiesta 1.4 C 121-150 (+ pre-2001 cars under 1549cc) -10% (£90) 50% increase on first (£135) Fiat Panda 1.2, Ford Ka 1.3 VW Golf 1.9 TDI, Jaguar X-type 2.0 D 151-165 +10% (£110) 50% increase on first (£165) Peugeot 307 1.4, Nissan Micra 1.4 VW Passat estate 1.9 TDI E 166-185 (+ pre-2001 cars 1549cc - 3000cc) +30% (£130) 50% increase on first (£195) Ford Mondeo saloon 1.8i, Rover 75 1.8 Mazda 5 2.0 TD, Jaguar S-Type 2.7 saloon F 186-224 +50% (£150) 50% increase on first (£225) Toyota Rav4 2.0, Audi A4 1.6 Land Rover Freelander 2.0, BMW 5 series 3.0 estate G Over 225 (+ pre-2001 cars over 3000cc) +200% (£300) 50% increase on first (£450) Renault Espace 2.0, BMW X5 4.8 Source: Richmond upon Thames Council | PROPOSED PARKING CHARGES BY CAR TYPE BAND CO2g/km FIRST PERMIT SECOND PERMIT EXAMPLE (PETROL) EXAMPLE (DIESEL) A Up to 100 Free Free Honda Insight Smart diesel B 101-120 -50% (£50) 50% increase on first (£75) Toyota Prius 1.5, Peugeot 107 1.0 Citroen C2 1.4, Ford Fiesta 1.4 C 121-150 (+ pre-2001 cars under 1549cc) -10% (£90) 50% increase on first (£135) Fiat Panda 1.2, Ford Ka 1.3 VW Golf 1.9 TDI, Jaguar X-type 2.0 D 151-165 +10% (£110) 50% increase on first (£165) Peugeot 307 1.4, Nissan Micra 1.4 VW Passat estate 1.9 TDI E 166-185 (+ pre-2001 cars 1549cc - 3000cc) +30% (£130) 50% increase on first (£195) Ford Mondeo saloon 1.8i, Rover 75 1.8 Mazda 5 2.0 TD, Jaguar S-Type 2.7 saloon F 186-224 +50% (£150) 50% increase on first (£225) Toyota Rav4 2.0, Audi A4 1.6 Land Rover Freelander 2.0, BMW 5 series 3.0 estate G Over 225 (+ pre-2001 cars over 3000cc) +200% (£300) 50% increase on first (£450) Renault Espace 2.0, BMW X5 4.8 Source: Richmond upon Thames Council |
| Return to top | Return to top |