Emissions Based Parking Charges Approved


Council says new rates will reduce cost for 80% of residents

The new charges would apply only for parking using the Ringgo system
The new charges would apply only for parking using the Ringgo system

January 10, 2023

Hammersmith & Fulham Council has approved plans to charge diesel drivers £2.50 more to park on its streets. A meeting on Monday night (10 January) green lit changes to parking charges that will be based on engine type.

The scheme, which the council says will slash parking charges for up to 80 per cent of residents, but mean those with older, high-emission vehicles will face the same fees – passed in a unanimous vote by councillors. The local authority hopes that the move will help residents with the cost-of-living crisis and help the council to achieve its net carbon zero 2030 target.

Labour council leader Stephen Cowan praised the scheme, which he claimed would cut the cost of parking “in real terms”. He said during the Cabinet meeting, “We recognise the economy has been extremely badly managed over the last 12 years, and in particular during the Truss regime, and we now have the worst inflation we’ve had since Margaret Thatcher put measures in place to counter inflation some time ago.

“But it’s worth taking into account that this is not just a cut in real terms, it’s an actual cut. Significantly more than anyone has ever made to parking charges” in the council’s history, he claimed.

“Clearly the big challenge – and talk to any young person – is that climate change is going to change the way the 21st century is played and is, so far, just beginning to be understood by most people in the public. Two ways to tackle climate change is to limit the way people drive and also to encourage people to transport around with cleaner transport like cycling”.

Deputy leader Ben Coleman said the measures were being introduced after the borough “was being used like a parking lot”. He said, “A lot of residents made a representation about that and we have a commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2030 and we’re trying to bring this all together.”

The measures are expected to take effect by the end of March this year.

Under the proposals, electric vehicles will be charged £2.50 per hour to park in the borough while ULEZ-compliant vehicles will see fares cut from £5 per hour to £3.50 per hour or £4.25 per hour depending on their CO2 emissions. Payment will

A £6 per hour charge will be applied to vehicles not meeting ULEZ standards. Diesel drivers will be charged an extra £1 per hour surcharge due to the “extremely negative impact of diesel vehicles on air quality.”

At the height of the Covid pandemic, Hammersmith and Fulham Council introduced higher parking charges to put off out-of-borough motorists driving into London from the A3, M4 and M40.

Residents have told councillors and officers that they have felt put off from visiting friends and services by the high cost of parking. The report added that older and disabled residents have been particularly impacted by the high charges.


Jacob Phillips - Local Democracy Reporter

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