News RSS Feed


Richmond ups parking charges for gas guzzlers in all bays

9:47am Wednesday 7th January 2009 in


Gas guzzlers in Richmond will have to pay higher parking charges across the whole of the borough – not just in residents’ bays.

Richmond Council announced the most polluting vehicles will be charged 25 per cent more to use its car parks and other parking bays.

Vehicles ranging from Porsche Cayennes to average family cars such as some Ford Mondeos will pay up to £1.90 an hour to park across Richmond-upon-Thames.

This will apply to cars which emit more than 180 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The council was the first in the country to vary residents’ parking fees according to a car’s emissions. That change, approved in January last year, saw some permits treble in price.

However, an AA spokesmans said: “It is ludicrous to penalise a vehicle on its emissions, when the engine is switched off.”

Smaller cars which emit 120 to 180 grams of CO2 per kilometre, such as a Ford Focus, will be charged about £1.50 an hour.

The cleanest cars, including the hybrid Toyota Prius and Honda Civic, would pay £1.20.

However, all drivers will be forced to pay the top rate unless they register for the scheme, which could come into play as early as spring.

Motorists will have to register their car’s details online. They will then receive a “Richmond Smart Card”, which they will be able to top up to pay parking fees.

They can also pay by mobile phone, entering their vehicle registration number. The car’s emission class will be checked against the DVLA database and the correct fee will be levied.

The council believes about 60 per cent of households would fall into the two lower categories.

More than 20 councils countrywide have followed the Richmond’s example of linking residents’ bay parking fees with emissions.

The latest change is also expected to be copied across Britain.

Comments(12)

Phillip Taylor says...
1:55pm Wed 7 Jan 09

This is another example of a disgraceful stealth decision by the ruling LibDems in Richmond to levy extra tax on people who drive cars they disapprove of. I notice it wasn't in their election manifesto here in 2006.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Harry_ says...
2:55pm Wed 7 Jan 09

Neither was the crippling rise in council tax that was introduced as soon as Arbour's Conservatives gained power.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Cllr True says...
3:23pm Wed 7 Jan 09

This is looney Liberalism at its worst. In the midst of the most devastating and accelerating recession on our high streets in living memory, instead of helping our shops by calling off the traffic wardens as we have asked, the Council plans to tighten the screw on struggling shopkeepers.

"What this amounts to is a near million-pound 'shoppers' supertax'

"Now we know why the LibDems spent £1.5 million on new parking meters while cutting meals-on-wheels - to fleece shops and shoppers of all ages.

We are ruled by headline-seeking ideologues. It is time to boot out this incompetent and wasteful administration and concentrate on the real needs of local people, starting with justice for old people being deprived of hot meals on wheels and a Council tax freeze this spring."


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Lez says...
10:28pm Wed 7 Jan 09

These pathetic-parasite-po
liticians are really, really, pushing their luck with the public now. It is very clear that they are using the emissions argument to extort money out of people - but on a vehicle that is STATIC? A vehicle that is PARKED with the engine switched OFF?

It goes to show the absolute contempt that these parasites have for the people that they work for - the public.

Hello, hello, we can see the king hasn't got his clothes on, we know you are milking us dry.

All that this does is convince those of us still left with some free-will and the ability to think, that politicians 'absolutely' cannot be trusted.

I'd lock the lot up and throw away the key.

It's time for regime change in Richmond.


Report this post »    Register/Log In »

therealcolin says...
10:38pm Wed 7 Jan 09

Roll on the local elections.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

tonybryer says...
12:53am Thu 8 Jan 09

I lived in Twickenham for 55 years and watched the town centre steadily decline as councils of both parties used planning and parking restrictions to discourage investment. Since I left, Woolworths has closed, and now we have this bright idea has surfaced. Eevn those who won't pay more will wonder, and then perhaps head off to a place where their custom is welcome.

The answer is simple: return business rates to local councils and make them pay all parking revenues over to central government. Then the emphasis would be on encouraging town centres and reducing parking controls and enforcement to the minimum necessary. Currently councils have a financial interest in doing just the opposite.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Harry_ says...
12:48pm Thu 8 Jan 09

Lez, how do the cars reach the car park in the first place? Do they dematerialize like the Tardis? No, they drive there. While they're being driven to the car park they are belching out fumes.

Did you not consider this with your 'ability to think'?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Harry_ says...
12:48pm Thu 8 Jan 09

Lez, how do the cars reach the car park in the first place? Do they dematerialize like the Tardis? No, they drive there. While they're being driven to the car park they are belching out fumes.

Did you not consider this with your 'ability to think'?

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Ditzy_1 says...
7:11pm Thu 8 Jan 09

R.I.P High Street shops.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Mustang Sally says...
1:15pm Fri 9 Jan 09

More showboating from this tinpot regime. Please remember policies such as these when it comes to local election time - and give them a **** good thrashing. This really isn't about whether you drive a G-Whiz or a Hummer, or left wing or right wing.
It's about the simplistic beliefs of council managers who think they are actually real politicians, with the result that they consider themselves able to create headline-grabbing policies such as this. They were actually elected to simply look after our Council Tax, clean the streets and empty the bins.
What's the result? They alienate voters and create distrust by introducing ill-considered schemes like this.
Discriminating "... the polluter will pay more" (see LBRUT website press release) against your citizens by taxing them further via the size of their car engine when they go shopping is a Very Bad Idea. In the present circumstances it's potentially suicidal.
If you don't consider it a stealth tax, read this quote...
"Should there be any additional money we will spend it on parking and transport infrastructure in the borough. We have not budgeted to make a surplus from this but like most other councils we are seeing revenue falling at present so any extra revenue generated would go towards supporting essential services."
And don't forget, if you do sign up to this scheme, there's a whole swathe of personal data about what you drive, where you live, where you park etc, being donated free of charge to your friendly local council for future analysis at their leisure. (Or leaving on a train).
What frightens local councillors more than anything? No, it's not forgetting to put on their anoraks over their suits in cold weather. It's losing votes. Remember that.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Lez says...
9:43pm Fri 9 Jan 09

Harry_ wrote:
Lez, how do the cars reach the car park in the first place? Do they dematerialize like the Tardis? No, they drive there. While they're being driven to the car park they are belching out fumes. Did you not consider this with your 'ability to think'?
Harry, Your logic (lack of it) is very worrying. Please don't ever get into government.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

Harry_ says...
10:00pm Fri 9 Jan 09

Explain why, Les. I've given you a reason, all you have given is abuse. Explain why my argument lacks logic.

Report this post »    Register/Log In »

More News stories


The higher charges will apply to all bays - not just residents' permits The higher charges will apply to all bays - not just residents' permits

Most popular



Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »

Local Businesses