Hackney ,
19
January
2015
|
14:17
Europe/London

Parking Permits Review aims to drive down pollution

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Hackney Council is proposing to change the way it charges for parking as part of a drive to reduce pollution in the borough.

The proposed changes, to be rolled out over three years (2015-2017), will see parking permits charged according to CO2 emissions instead of engine size, with the most polluting vehicles being charged more.

With areas of Hackney suffering from some of the worst air quality levels in London, it is hoped the new banding scheme will encourage people to consider more environmentally friendly cars or to use other forms of sustainable transport.

The proposals, due to be considered by Cabinet this month, are part of the Council’s wider ambitions to drive down pollution, and reflect similar ‘green-charging’ policies already in place in neighbouring boroughs aimed at reducing harmful pollutants in our air.

A number of other changes are also outlined as part of the Parking Permits Review, aimed at making the system fairer for residents:

  • Cars built before 2001 will move up a band in the charging scheme, reflecting the levels of CO2 they produce.
  • A removal of the height / weight / length limits for short-stay parking which will benefit local businesses.
  • A £50 levy for diesel vehicles which are the most polluting.

Following Cabinet, residents and businesses will be informed of the proposed permit charges. To help prepare vehicle owners for these proposed changes, there will be no changes to the price of permits in 2015. In 2016, renewed permits will be subject to a 50% increase of the proposed charge difference. The full charges will come into effect in 2017.

Read frequently asked questions about the parking permits review.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Hackney Council
The proposed changes in permit charging are a clear example of how seriously we are taking the challenge of reducing the high levels of pollution in Hackney.

It's a sobering thought that 4,300 deaths per year in London are linked to pollution, and it's of great concern that some areas of Hackney are failing to meet EU air quality levels. We hope that these measures, the growth in sustainable transport and car hire schemes such as DriveNow, Zip Car and City Car Club will help to make Hackney a cleaner, healthier place to live and work.
Cllr Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Hackney Council