Huge hike in parking charges for Lambeth drivers
By Robert Firth, Local Democracy Reporter
The cost of parking in Lambeth is set to more than quadruple for owners of some cars.
The council wants to change how it charges for parking and make drivers with more polluting vehicles pay more.
But the cost of parking even the most eco-friendly cars will triple under the proposed changes for 2023/24.
Officials say they hope the price hikes will get more cars off the road and encourage people to take public transport, cycle or walk instead.
Drivers of the 2015 Volkswagen Golf will be among the biggest losers from the planned changes.
Cars which produce between 91g and 100g of C02 per km like the 2015 Golf would be hit with a yearly charge of £193.32 for a parking permit, up from just £39.90 at present.
Those lucky enough to own a gas-guzzling supercar like the Lamborghini Aventador 6.5 would face paying the most to park.
An annual resident permit for the most polluting cars is set to jump from £340.73 to £500 under the proposed increases.
Owners of environmentally friendly electric cars that produce no C02 will see the cost of an annual permit jump from £39.90 to £120.21 under the planned changes.
There will be 13 different tariffs drivers could end up paying for a permit, depending on how polluting their vehicle is.
On-street parking is also set to become more expensive for all drivers, except those who have the most eco-friendly cars.
For those with electric cars, parking in most areas will remain at the current price of £3.94 per hour. But some car owners will have to pay 40 per cent extra, or £5.52 per hour to park.
Drivers of the Nissan Qashqai, the UK’s most popular car last year, would have to pay 12 per cent more or £4.41 per hour on most streets under the proposed increases.
Car ownership in Lambeth is lower than the London average, with just four in 10 families owning a car.
But more than a quarter of the borough’s yearly carbon emissions are linked to car pollution, according to the Labour-led council.
Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, the council’s cabinet member for clean air, said: “These proposed changes will make our parking fees structure fairer and more reflective of the different levels of pollution produced by vehicles.
“We would like to link the amount drivers will pay to their car tax band. This way we can ensure those who pollute the most are charged the most to park.
“Air pollution kills around 100 residents every year and hospitalises a further 750. Doing nothing is not an option. We need to take decisive action now in order for Lambeth to be a fairer, healthier and more climate resilient place to live and work for years to come.”
(Picture: Hammersmith and Fulham council)
lambeth sent out an emial to all permit holders on 17 feb stating ‘Lambeth Council is proposing to increase the number of parking charging bands from six to 13 to ensure vehicles that cause the most emissions also pay the most for parking. This will bring charges in line with Vehicle Excise Duty’
however that is a false statement as the proposed new charges bear no resemblance to the DVLA vehicle tax, lambeth is charging the biggest percentage incresaes to lowest emission cars and the lowest percentage incresaes to the gas guzzlesr in fact lambeth will charge gaz guzzlers less than vehicle tax rates dvla for cars over 255 co2 registered after 1 april 2022 the tax is minimum of £2355 and before £630 yet lambeth will only charge £500 why is that how many senior lambeth officals and councillors have nice big cars that they have decided not to do what they claimed in matching DVLA sequence of rates, why lie its a bit like putin the lies are so obviously found out, why not increse parkoig permits for social housing parking places too if so concerned for everyones health – ah lets not upset our voters eh?
how about adding an extra £500 on council tax bills of those with a driveway with a car?