Hounslow Council to expand emissions-based parking charges

Images: Vehicles which produce more carbon dioxide emissions will face stricter charges

Council say 45% of those they surveyed support charging higher fees for cars which pollute more

Hounslow Council has announced plans to expand its emission-based parking charges as part of its recently approved Parking Strategy, aimed at improving air quality and promoting sustainable transport within the borough.

The proposed changes, which will affect parking charges at Council-owned car parks and on-street parking spaces, will align fees with the CO2 emissions of vehicles.

Following a consultation conducted in Autumn 2023, the Council reported that 45% of respondents supported the idea of linking parking fees to a vehicle’s pollution output, with an additional 11% remaining neutral.

Concerns about the impact of poor air quality on family health were also highlighted, with over half of those surveyed expressing worry.

Under the new scheme, vehicles producing lower emissions, such as electric and hybrid cars, will be charged at a lower rate than those deemed more polluting. Notably, motorcycles are not included in these initial changes, but the Council indicated that further consultations will occur regarding this matter in the future.

Hounslow Council has previously implemented emission-based parking for its PayByPhone services, using a three-tier charging system that categorises vehicles into zero, low, and other emissions.

The new proposals aim to introduce a more granular banding system to better reflect varying levels of vehicle emissions. Similar initiatives have been adopted in other London boroughs with reported success.

Councillor Shivraj Grewal, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Recycling, and Transformation, said:

“Our ambition is to create a healthier, greener Hounslow for everyone. Air quality in our borough is a big issue and we need to take bold action to tackle pollution.”

The Council has committed to engaging with residents and businesses to ensure that the new parking charges are implemented fairly and effectively. The statutory consultation process on the detailed traffic orders is currently ongoing and will close on 8 November.