Extension of CO2 parking charges
!(right) http://www.richmond.gov.uk/co2_emissions.jpg (co2 emissions sign)!
The Council is proposing to extend its policy of CO2 related parking charges to parking meters and council car parks. Parking charges are set increase by 25% but the majority of borough residents and visitors who register will qualify for either no increase or a 25% discount for the least polluting cars. We want to encourage all drivers to think about the cars they drive and reward those who drive the least polluting.
Summary of key points
- These are proposals
- Yet to go to Cabinet and out to consultation
- Implemented by spring
- Still deciding exactly how we will consult
- 60% of residents – no change or reduction of 25%
- Need to register – easy and only takes 5 minutes online
- No change to residents or business permits.
- Continuation of parking policy launched in 2007 – but now more fair and effective.
— from a Council webpage
What do you think? leave a comment below
source Maeve Good
Comments
You have no choice but to use smart card technology and register online (one-off fee of £2.50) or pay by mobile phone (at 20p a call) or pay maximum fee no matter what your car emmissions are. Seems a lot of red tape just to park in your local borough. (Also proposals to close the Parking Shop so everything has to be done online or by phone).
What about local shops? It's fair enough to walk if you are just popping out for a bottle of milk but will you find it easier to do a big shop with parking for free at a supermarket? And this probably won't do much good to your local butcher, greengrocer, etc. What about the local shops who sell furniture, white goods, tiles, wine? Not everything can be carried home.
What about visitors and shoppers from outside the borough?
I'd also like to know how the council will assess light goods vehicles as this will affect local tradesmen. As I understand it, there is currently no available data on CO2 emissions for light goods vehicles.
Maeve Good on 2009-01-28 13:10:18 +0000Add a comment