Parking concession to end for city drivers with low-emission cars

DRIVERS WITH low emission cars who get 50 per cent off their parking permits in a Yorkshire city will have to pay full price after the discount was scrapped.

Only motorists in York with ultra low emissions vehicles, which produce less than 75g of carbon dioxide per kilometre, will qualify for money off their parking from April.

But Green Party councillor Denise Craghill asked York Council to reconsider the plans, saying the proposals hit residents living in terraced streets and drivers with smaller cars.

She said: “This is about a transition. It’s encouraging people to do what they can, where they can. At the moment, people with smaller cars that put out less emissions get this incentive. What this policy is doing is taking that away. That has to have a negative impact on air quality in York.”

She added that residents living on terraced streets cannot charge ultra low emissions vehicles at home.

A York Council meeting heard that 1,316 people who have discounted permits will be affected. But council officers said the move brings the authority into line with government changes and technology will evolve.

And Coun Ann Reid, the Liberal Democrat group’s deputy leader, said: “Government regulations have changed so we’ve evolved this policy. We should support the decision that’s been made and move along with the government regulations.”

The decision to change the policy was upheld by a majority vote.