Reading parking charges to increase for 'more polluting' cars

Reading Borough Council is moving forward with a proposal to increase charges for on-street parking and permits for higher polluting vehicles.

Charges would vary depending on a vehicle’s emissions.

A sliding scale of parking tariffs based on a vehicle’s emissions rating would be introduced, meaning the less polluting the vehicle, the less the driver pays.

These charges would be introduced as part of the council's push to improve air quality and the health of residents, and achieve its net zero emissions goals.

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The change would necessarily require updating on-street pay and display machines which will also enable easier and more convenient ways to pay.

The cost of replacing all of the pay and display machines has not been outlined.

However, the council predicts the scheme would produce a net income of £330,000.

Of that, it predicts higher charges for more polluting vehicles will earn it £230,000 in on-street parking charges, and £100,000 from higher tariffs for parking permits.

Meanwhile, it expects to save £20,000 from reduced maintenance of pay and display machines, and £15,000 in reduced cash collection costs, where money collected by machines has to be securely removed.

The introduction of higher parking charges for more polluting vehicles is due to be decided by the council's policy committee.

Introducing the changes, John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for climate strategy and transport said:  “Petrol and diesel vehicles emit pollution which can be particularly damaging to vulnerable individuals such as children, older people and individuals with lung and heart conditions.

John Ennis (Labour, Southcote), lead councillor for climate strategy and transport on Reading Borough Council. (Image: Reading Borough Council)

“We know that transport accounts for around 30 per cent of all carbon emissions nationally and the council is aiming to improve air quality in Reading by encouraging the use of low-emission vehicles, public transport, cycling and walking.

“Emission-based parking charges means those motorists with higher polluting vehicles pay more, while those with lower or zero emission vehicles pay less.

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“The introduction of modern new pay and display machines also offer easier and more convenient ways to pay for on-street parking and ends the need for unnecessary paper tickets and, for the first time in Reading, the ability to pay conveniently for parking using a bank card or mobile phone.

“We have seen similar schemes successfully introduced by councils around the country.

“Alongside the council’s major investment in faster and cheaper public transport, we believe it is an effective way of helping to reduce the number of high emission vehicles, while improving air quality, benefitting health and helping achieve our ambitions to be a net zero borough.”

A decision on emissions-based parking charges is due to be made at the policy committee meeting on Monday, January 20. If approved, the new charges would be introduced in April.

The increased charges will not affect the council's off-street car parks, which would be subject to future changes.