Permit talks put brakes on drive to target gas guzzlers

MOVES to introduce higher parking charges for the most polluting cars are set to be stalled as the controversial plans are put out for public consultation.

The proposals aimed at encouraging people to switch to greener vehicles have divided opinion in the Capital and were set to be discussed at today's council transport committee.

But a final decision now looks to be months away as city leaders today pledged to carry out a public consultation.

The plans would mean owners of the biggest gas-guzzlers would see the cost of an inner zone permit double from the current £160-a-year to £320.

But drivers of the least polluting vehicles in the outer zones could see their charge fall from £80 to just £15.

Residents would also face higher charges for second vehicles. The move for more consultation has today won broard support from some opposition politicians, but the Greens said their rivals' environmental credentials were on the line if they fudged a decision today.

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie said: "We are concerned that this might end up as some sort of trendy window dressing exercise without actually making much of a difference to the problem they are trying to address.

"We need to take a proper look at this as I don't see where ability to pay has been taken into consideration. It just needs to go out to a wider consultation."

Council officials estimate that more than 11,000 people will pay less under the scheme, with just 3348 residents paying more. The council expects this to result in a drop in income of nearly £44,000.

Tory group leader Iain Whyte said: "The officers claim in the report there had been some consultation but there was not any widespread consultation as far as I'm aware.

"The proposals as they stand are turning parking charges into a tax whereas they were originally meant to cover the cost of the parking operation."

Any changes to parking permits would involve a new traffic regulation order, which could result in a public hearing before the scheme was adopted.

Therefore, any new scheme is not likely to be in place before 2010 at the earliest.

The city's Labour transport spokesman, Councillor Ricky Henderson, said:

"The broad principle is fairly sound but I think we do need to look again at how we incentivise people to look more carefully at their cars and the environment.

Councillor Steve Burgess, the Green's environment spokesman, said: "All political parties should be supporting this move rather than trying to scupper it. Any claim to having green credentials is on the line here.

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City leader councillor Jenny Dawe, said:

"We fully understand that this is not something that could be implemented straight away and we will use the report from officers as a basis for going out to consultation on the issue."