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'Gas guzzlers' face parking hike 'Gas guzzlers' face parking hike
(40 minutes 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 residents with high-emission cars could pay £750 a year, compared with £200 now, but the greenest cars would be exempt. Richmond upon Thames residents with 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.
It proposes a sliding scale of charges for parking permits based on the government's car tax bands.
Owners of 4x4s and high performance sports cars would pay higher parking permit rates than those with electric, hybrid and some diesel vehicles.
The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level Serge Lourie, Richmond Council leader Most brands 'failing on CO2' What would road pricing cost
Band A, which would be free, would consist of electric cars, while vehicles covered under band G would include petrol 4x4s, the Jaguar X-type and the Renault Espace people carrier.
"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.
"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." "For too long, it has been seen as a problem that only central governments or international organisations could address.
Higher congestion charge "The truth is that we must all start acting now at local level."
'Right direction'
If the plans are approved by the council's cabinet on November 6, the cost of parking the most polluting vehicles would rise from £100 to £300.If the plans are approved by the council's cabinet on November 6, 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. And 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 councillorWe'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
Richmond, which would consult with residents and local businesses in the coming months, hope to be able to implement the scheme by the New Year.
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. "We're very hopeful that other councils will follow suit," he told the BBC.
"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 are the first in the country to implement a change such as this, and we would certainly hope that others do."
Tony Bosworth, from Friends of the Earth, said the proposal was a "step in the right direction", but called on 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 called on the government to increase road tax on gas-guzzlers.
"Encouraging people to buy fuel-efficient cars is a big part of the answer to climate change... but the real power here lies with the chancellor," he said."Encouraging people to buy fuel-efficient cars is a big part of the answer to climate change... but the real power here lies with the chancellor," he said.
But Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association pointed out that the measure would also affect families with larger saloon cars.But Mike Rutherford from the Motorists' Association pointed out that the measure would also affect families with larger saloon cars.
He said the Richmond plan was a "money-making exercise" but acknowledged it may slowly help encourage people to buy different vehicles. He said the Richmond plan appeared to be 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. A council spokesman, however, stressed the plan was "an exercise in cutting down on CO2 emissions".
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".
Mr Livingstone said if his plans got wider backing, discounts could be in place by 2008, and higher charges by 2010.
National policiesNational 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. Road charging is the government's radical proposal to cut traffic levels and tolls and congestion charging are being considered in many areas.
Anyone trying to drive a high-emissions vehicle from Richmond into central London could also face an additional cost for the city's congestion charge in the coming years.
In July, it emerged that the charge for drivers of such cars could rise to £25 in 2010 - 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".
Delegates at the Lib Dem conference in September, meanwhile, 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.