Owners of the most polluting cars may soon have to pay more to park as councils across England are expected to roll out new charges based on a vehicle’s CO2 emissions.
As The Guardian reports, Lambeth is the latest council in London to introduce emissions-based parking fees, with similar charges now expected elsewhere in England. Owners of the most polluting cars can expect to pay more than twice as much as cleaner cars.
There are now 26 different charges to park for an hour in Lambeth, depending on a car’s tax band and whether there is a diesel surcharge.
The cost of a parking bay near Waterloo station in south London now ranges between £6.30 (€7.39) and £13.23 (€15.51) an hour, with payment made by an app.
The consultation on the charges introduced on May 30th included a new pricing structure for residents’ parking permits, which are already based on CO2 emissions.
The annual cost of the highest band has risen from £340.73 to £500, with an additional annual surcharge of £140 for a diesel vehicle that does not comply with Euro 6 emission standards.
Of more than 2,900 responses in the consultation, 59 per cent objected to the proposals.
Lambeth has implemented the changes despite opposition, stating that air quality is a major public health issue and a wide range of interventions is required.
The efforts to reduce car journeys and create what are known as 15-minute cities - in which key local facilities are within 15 minutes walk or cycle from someone’s home - has created divisions in many areas.
Industry experts have added that modern parking apps – such as RingGo and PayByPhone – offer the technology to levy higher charges for vehicles that pollute more, being aple to identify the tax band of a vehicle using its reg number.
