Green campaigners in London on Monday welcomed Paris’s decision to triple parking charges for SUVs in a bid to discourage drivers from bringing the large vehicles into the city centre.
Almost 55 per cent of people voting in a referendum backed increasing the charges for sports utility vehicles – which tend to be heavier and more polluting – in a bid to improve the environment in the French capital and discourage suburban motorists to drive into the city centre.
The cost of parking a SUV for an hour will rise to 18 euros (£15.40), while six hours will cost 225 euros (£192).
Caroline Russell, a Green member of the London Assembly, said: “Have to love the people of Paris. SUVs have no place on busy city streets and charging more for storing monster cars on street makes sense.”
Leo Murray, co-director of climate charity Possible, said: “It is fantastic to see the people of Paris voting to increase parking charges for large and oversized cars, a great first step in reversing the recent trend towards ‘autobesity’.
“This landmark referendum is the latest triumph in Paris’ ongoing mission to tackle its problems with air pollution, congestion and motor traffic dominance, and is likely to inspire cities around the world to follow suit.”
Alice Ridley from transport charity Campaign for Better Transport said: “SUVs are too large for most city streets and are harming our efforts to tackle congestion and reduce carbon emissions. We support higher parking charges for SUVs to help reduce the impact of these large vehicles on London’s roads and public transport system.”
The move comes as Westminster council prepares to link the cost of parking – both for visitors and residents – to the emissions from their car.
Its “pay to park” charges will increase from March 18, while resident permits will change in April. This will remove the discount currently offered for electric and hybrid vehicles that enables them to park for as little as 8p an hour in Paddington and 24p an hour in the West End.
Annual parking permits for 4&4s such as the BMW X5, the Porsche Cayenne and the Land Rover Defender will increase to £371.
London mayor Sadiq Khan said he would be watching to see the impact of the charges in Paris. He has no powers to introduce a SUV parking charge.
In 2006, Ken Livingstone proposed increasing the congestion charge to £25 for “Chelsea tractors”. At the time the C-charge was £8.
Mr Livingstone was defeated by Boris Johnson in the 2008 mayoral election and the policy was abandoned.
