Greener parking scheme to be launched in January

From January 2021 drivers with more polluting vehicles will pay more to park in Croydon while the greenest cars will receive substantial discounts.

Croydon residents have repeatedly told the council they are concerned about air pollution and there are too many cars on the roads. The new charging structure will encourage a switch to lower emission vehicles and discourage non-essential car use which has a cost to households and the local economy.

The sliding scale of emissions-based parking charges is based on three pricing bands. Band 1: vehicles which produce less than one gram of CO2 per kilometre, mostly electric ones; Band 2: standard cars using petrol or diesel engines introduced since September 2015; and Band 3: vehicles that produce the most carbon dioxide per kilometre, or more than 185 grams per kilometre.

Following the introduction on 1 January, parking charges for zero-emission vehicles will be reduced by about 90% while charges for the highest emission vehicles would be increased by 30%. The initiative is in keeping with Croydon Council’s aim to tackle the climate crisis and improve the borough’s air quality. It is also expected to help relieve parking congestion from non-essential car use and thereby improve access for those who must drive.

The system of payment will be made as simple as possible for those with or without a smartphone. Low emission discounts will be applied automatically and for more details on bands and charges visit the council’s website parking pages.

The announcement follows a public consultation which attracted 626 responses, as well as the introduction of emission-based parking charges for annual permits that has been in place borough-wide since October 2019.

In line with the new charging scheme, the one-hour free parking in places where there are ticket machines will cease.

The changes will not affect residential, business and other parking permits; disabled Blue Badge parking; charging associated with parking bay suspensions; or School Street access permits.

“Families in Croydon have asked for action on air pollution and the climate crisis and we are listening.

“As a council we are intent on improving the living environment for our residents, and these measures encourage people to switch to a less polluting car and promote more walking, cycling and use of public transport.

“Through these and other schemes like Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and School Streets, Croydon is becoming a greener, healthier place to live and we are doing our bit to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Councillor Muhammad Ali, cabinet member for sustainable Croydon

2020-12-03T17:35:43+00:00 December 3rd, 2020|Recent news|