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Drivers of cars with high CO2 emissions will have to pay more to park under plans drawn up by Richmond council.

The proposals mean owners of cars emitting more than 180g/km of CO2 could pay up to £1.90 an hour to park at a meter in the borough. A second tier, for cars producing between 120g/km and 150g/km will be charged at around £1.50 per hour, with the greenest cars paying £1.20 per hour.

Local councils across the country are reported to be interested in the new scheme, with over a dozen authorities considering the emissions-based parking charges.

Read Ed Keohane's blog on Richmond's parking charges

Richmond was the first borough to vary the cost of residents’ parking permits based on the car’s carbon emissions, with drivers of the highest-emitting vehicles paying treble for their permits.

Under the new scheme drivers will have to register to avoid paying the top rate, but paying will be made easier with the introduction of a new smart-card system, which will determine the correct charge using the DVLA database and the car’s vehicle excise duty band. A pay-by-phone system will also be introduced.

Around 40 per cent of households in Richmond can expect to pay the higher rate when the pilot scheme is launched in the spring.

George Barrow

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