Council approves tax on 'gas-guzzling' 4x4s
By David Millward, Transport Correspondent
Last Updated: 8:04am GMT 30/01/2007
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/...ars130.xml
Plans to triple the cost of a parking permit for the drivers of 4x4s, many large family cars and some sports models were approved last night by Richmond-upon-Thames in south west London.
       
The move, which is likely to be followed by a number of other London boroughs and councils outside the capital, was rubber stamped by the Liberal Democrat controlled authority, despite a torrent of opposition from motoring groups.
Last night’s decision will see the cost of cars with the highest CO2 emissions facing a £300 bill for their annual resident’s parking permit, compared to £100 currently.
It came despite a poll in the borough showing fewer than half (49 per cent) of residents were in favour.
At the same time Ken Livingstone, London’s mayor, proposes to charge owners of cars in Band G — those with carbon dioxide emissions above 225g per kilometre — £25 a day to drive in the capital’s congestion zone.
However other models could also be hit by this charge including two-litre VW beetles and some Ford Mondeos.
Those already living inside the zone which covers much of central London will also lose the 90 per cent discount on the congestion charge available to drivers of cars regarded as less environmentally damaging.
Other boroughs looking at following Richmond’s example include Lambeth. Outside London, the Labour party in Brighton has included in its election manifesto plans to increase the cost of parking permits for cars with higher CO2 emissions.
Richmond’s move was welcomed by Stephen Joseph, director of the environmental group, Transport 2000.
"This is a practical step. It doesn’t stop people from owning cars, but it does send them some signals.
"You can still own quite large vehicles, but they don’t have to be gas guzzlers," he added. "This is an example of local government doing something, while national government just talks about it."
But the proposals were condemned by AA Public Affairs.
"There are so many holes in the scheme. You could have the largest gas guzzler in the world and park it in your driveway without being penalised, where as someone without off street parking will be hit.
"There is also a problem with the whole issue of Band G, which is so all-encompassing that it is sweeping up larger family cars and people carriers, which will hit people with a lot of children.
"It also goes against the whole idea of parking controls which were designed to protect residents from commuters and people from outside hogging up the spaces. It really is a betrayal of residents."
-----------------------
Reducing pollution from exhaust is a good thing but punitive charges like this will hurt small businesses and families, which have to use larger vehicles.
