Frequently asked questions about emission based charging for parking permits

What is the benefit of these proposals

The benefits of the proposal are that it is anticipated that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) from vehicles will be reduced and that overall residents will increase their awareness of the need to reduce such emissions. In addition if residents switch to other forms of transport (buses, trains, cycling, walking), or join car clubs, there may be an overall reduction in car ownership leading to less congestion and greater opportunity for residents to park nearer their home:  many Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) currently have reached saturation point with respect to available car parking space.

Aren’t you double taxing certain residents who already pay council tax?

Given that charging for residents’ parking permits in Controlled Parking Zones is an established and common practice, what this scheme offers residents is choice – they choose to pay a lower or higher sum based on the level of CO2 emission from their vehicle. A resident’s permit also provides an additional benefit not afforded to the general population, that is, the ability to pay an extra amount for a parking permit in exchange for parking in a designated area.

This should be done by central government, not by a Local Authority?

Central Government do not operate CPZs and while they have led the way on a sliding charge for Road Fund licences there is a need to bring the issue down to a local level. This will further reduce CO2 emission, increase awareness and also allow residents to opt to pay less for their permit by using low emission vehicles.

Why are we doing it this way?

One of the most serious issues facing the world today is that of ‘Global Warming’. Experts are united in the need to reduce the level of CO2 being produced in the world today and it is important that everyone does what they can to reduce levels of emission. A recent survey shows that London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRUT) has one of the highest levels of CO2 emissions per household in London, and the Council is determined to do what it can to assist in bringing the emission rates down.

What is the impact on different groups - families, vulnerable groups, businesses, disabled?

Lower income groups may already opt to drive small (more economic, less Road Fund licence, etc) vehicles and these proposals will be of benefit as they will pay less (Bands A, B and C. For Band D, the increase is consistent with the level it would have been if inflation had been accounted for since the last changes were made.  People with ‘Blue Badges’ (Disabled Parking Badges) will be unaffected by the scheme

Why choose these percentages?

The percentages have been chosen to provide an incentive for residents to own vehicles that emit less CO2 and the banding has been based on the levels currently adopted by the DVLA.

Why the particular criteria for pre 2001 cars?

Since 2001 the government has required all new cars to have details of their CO2 emissions included on the ‘Registration Document’. As this information is not readily available for pre 2001 cars, a simple three-band approach has been taken based on the engine size (the size of the engine is recorded on the registration documents). As the DVLA use 1549cc as a threshold value, this has been chosen to act as the lower value with a second higher value chosen at 3000cc. It was felt that vehicles above 3000cc would correspond to the highest Banding on the post 2001 vehicles. Due to the need to keep the structure as simple as possible and, in the knowledge that approximately half the vehicles currently registered in CPZ areas are already post 2001, it was decided not to try and create more than three bands. It is estimated that within about 3 years the number of post 2001 vehicles in a CPZ will have risen to 75-80%.

Won’t this proposal just encourage more people to switch to diesel cars, swapping one form of pollutants for another?

This is possible and it is true that experts are divided over the issue of pollutants found in petrol and diesel. However the scheme is primarily designed to cut CO2 emissions although one of the benefits will be to encourage people to use cars with smaller engines. A smaller engine car, of either diesel or petrol, will generally cause less pollution than a larger engine car, therefore, overall pollutants are likely to decrease as a result of these proposals.

What about people outside CPZs? These people will pay no more for their gas-guzzlers?

It is only possible under this scheme to apply ‘controls’ where we are able to; this will mean that residents not in a CPZ will be able to have any vehicle they wish without an incentive scheme in place from this authority.

This will penalise multi-purpose vehicles needed to take kids to school?

This depends on the emission level of the multi-purpose vehicle (MPV); there are an increasing number of MPVs that fall into the mid/lower range of CO2 emissions.

Do other authorities charge more for second and subsequent cars?

Yes, many authorities across the country have a higher cost for second and subsequent permits. Indeed about half the boroughs in London have gone along this route.

Is this a national first? Why Richmond?

Whilst not being the first to charge a higher sum for second and subsequent permits, we have not come across any other authority that has proposed  a scheme of permit charges based on CO2 emission.

It is important for Richmond as we do have one of the highest CO2 emission rates per household in London, and we are also taking a strong lead on environmental issues and the need to reduce CO2 emissions. This summer we have signed the Nottingham declaration and are moving forward on other initiatives.

What about the Mayor's car?

The level of CO2 emissions will be a significant factor when selecting a new car for the Mayor.  We have recently ‘retired’ the old Mayor’s carone, which by virtue of it’s engine size and age was not as environmentally friendly as we would like and this gives us the opportunity to select a new vehicle that is in line with the policy of the Council.

But you’re not tackling through traffic, so this will have no impact?

If the Mayor of London chooses to adopt a similar approach and use the CO2 emissions of vehicles on which to base the congestion charge  then it will complement our approach and hopefully tackle some of the ‘through traffic’. What LBRUT will be doing is showing ‘Local Leadership’ on this important environmental issue.

How will this proposal make a difference?

It is hoped that when residents come to change their car they will be more aware of CO2 emission, and a medium term target of reducing CO2 emission by 15% (from CPZ vehicles) could be achieved if, on average, everyone moved to vehicles one band lower than their current car. Although Climate Change will need changes to be made at an international level if global warming is to be avoided, ‘Local Leadership’ is needed and we should not always leave it to others.

While this scheme is focused around the car, it is hoped that many people will increase their awareness and there will be a knock on effect with resident becoming more energy conscious.

How much additional income for the Council will be raised?

The objective of the proposal is not one of making money but additional income could result.  The level of income cannot be finalised until a decision is made on the percentage changes to each band and, even when this is known, it would depend on how many car owners responded to the incentive to reduce their vehicle emissions and move ‘down’ the bands when changing their car.

The ‘off street’ parking changes are likely to result in approximately £1 million additional revenue, although a lot will be off-set against current projected shortfalls that have arisen due to no increases in recent years.

What would any additional money be used for?

Money raised from these changes will be used to continue to introduce measures to tackle climate change, to improve parking facilities and transport across the borough, and to provide support to services for the provision of transport to the elderly and people with disabilities.

What else is the Council doing to tackle climate change?

The Council is committed to using more sustainable forms of energy and reducing its own CO2 emissions.  Some of the initiatives that it has introduced are:

The imminent appointment of an Energy Manager tasked with making real savings and promoting energy efficient in the Borough.

The electricity used for the Borough street lighting is now purchased from a fully sustainable source.

The Council is looking at developing the ‘Car Club’ scheme that currently operates in the Borough.

When purchasing new vehicles we will pay particular attention to the emissions generated and, where possible, opt for ‘cleaner and greener’ vehicles.

The Council has recently signed the Nottingham Declaration, supporting a sustainable approach.

The Council is involved currently in a 100 days of Carbon reduction where staff are activity encouraged to adopt energy reducing practices.

Through its transport policies, the Council is committed to improving public transport and promotes cycling and walking. In September it took part in the London wide ‘Good Going’ campaign aimed at promoting the use of public and sustainable transport.