Parking charge increases for more polluting cars have officially been approved in Reading.
Reading has officially approved higher parking fees for more polluting vehicles. The new scheme will see drivers of these cars paying more to park both on the street and in council car parks, including residential permits.
The costs are based on a vehicle's emissions, with a Ford Focus costing £1.20 for hourly parking in outer tariff areas, while drivers of a Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG will face the highest fee of £3.40. Cars emitting less than 151 g/km will still pay the current rate of £1 per hour.
This decision was made at a Reading Borough Council policy committee meeting, with Labour councillors arguing that the increased fees are part of efforts to combat climate change. John Ennis, lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, emphasised, "It’s all about air quality... we signed up to ensure our climate is in a better place by 2030."
However, opposition councillors voiced concerns about the impact on the cost of living, especially for those without driveways. Cllr Rob White argued that the changes would disproportionately affect those in densely populated areas, creating a ‘terrace tax’ rather than treating all drivers equally.
Labour’s Cllr Rachel Eden pressed White on whether he supports actions to improve air quality, stating that objections to specific proposals undermine ambition for change. White later clarified that the Greens do support the policy but worry about financial implications for drivers.
Cllr Raj Singh, a Conservative member, accused the Labour administration of disregarding consultation feedback. He stated, “We need action which is fair, effective, and evidence-based,” and referenced feedback from residents unable to afford new parking costs.
Only Cllr Singh voted against the fee increases during the meeting on November 17.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
