Shock as 'Green' Party fails to back move to make the polluter pay

7.00.15pm GMT Sat 24th Feb 2007

Residents have expressed surprise and amazement as the self styled 'Green' Party dramatically failed to support a Council proposal to increase the price of a resident's parking permit for gas-guzzling, high polluting vehicles.

The move puts at an end their claim to be the voice of environmentalism in the city, leaving many residents scratching their heads at what can only be seen as a bizarre vote.

They failed to support Labour / Lib Dem proposals which will mean that the cost of a resident's parking permit will rise by 50% to £120 per year for vehicles in band F or above that produce CO2 emissions of more than 185g/km or for older vehicles with engine sizes of more than 2,275cc.

It is anticipated that the increase will affect 18% of current permit holders bringing in an additional £51K that the councillors say must be spent on neighbourhood environmental improvements within parking scheme areas such as tree planting, and further investment in sustainable transport.

The council already gives a 50% discount for low emissions vehicles if the vehicle is newer than or registered after March 2001, in DVLA Band A or B which means it emits less than 120g of CO2 per Km.

The new proposals for the high emitting vehicles will mean that the council will be operating an emission based, sliding scale of charges as part of its measures to improve air quality and combat climate change.

Liberal Democrat Environment Spokesperson, Cllr Paul Elgood said,

"Similar measures have been introduced by the Liberal Democrats in Richmond. It works on the principal that the polluter pays and provides for an environmental penalty for those who drive 4X4s. the money raised will be ploughed directly back into carbon neutralising projects such as more tree planting in neighbourhoods and also to improve sustainable transport in the city"