Hounslow Council is proposing to expand its emission-based parking charges in Council operated car parks and on-street parking spaces.
Published: Friday, 1st November 2024
As part of its recently approved Parking Strategy, Hounslow Council has announced plans to expand its emission-based parking charges.
The move supports the Council’s ongoing commitment to improve air quality and promote cleaner, more sustainable transport.
In Autumn, 2023, the Council asked residents and other interested parties for their views as part of the consultation around the borough’s new Parking and Kerbside Strategies.
When asked whether what people pay to park should be in-line with how much pollution their vehicle makes, most people who responded to the consultation either agreed (45 per cent) or were neutral (11 per cent). More than half of those who responded said they worry about the impact of poor air quality on their children's or family’s health.*
The scheme, which will encourage residents and visitors to make environmentally conscious travel choices, supports the Council’s broader strategy to reduce carbon emissions and meet its climate emergency targets.
Under the proposals, parking charges at Council-owned car parks and on-street parking spaces will be linked to a vehicle’s CO2 emissions. These changes also apply to resident permits, business permits and season tickets.
This means that vehicles producing lower emissions, such as electric or hybrid cars, will be charged at a lower rate than more polluting vehicles. It should be noted that at this stage motorcycles are not included in these changes, but this will be subject to a further consultation in the coming months.
Hounslow Council already operates emission-based parking for on-street and off-street PayByPhone parking, which uses a three-tier charging system: zero, low, and other emissions.
The new system will introduce a greater number of bands, to reflect the level of emissions produced by different vehicle types. Similar schemes have been successfully introduced in other London boroughs.
Councillor Shivraj Grewal, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Recycling and Transformation, said: “Our ambition is to create a healthier, greener Hounslow for everyone. Air quality in our borough is a big issue and we need to take bold action to tackle pollution.
“We understand that this is a significant change, and we will work closely with residents and businesses to ensure that the new parking charges are fair and effective. Our ultimate goal is to create a cleaner, healthier borough for future generations.”
Residents can find more information about the proposals on the Council’s website including the statutory consultation process on the detail of the traffic orders, which runs until 8 November: https://www.hounslow.gov.uk/info/20011/parking_transport_and_streets/2627/emissions-based_parking_charges
