4 x 4s hit by Richmond Council with higher parking charges

Poppycat

They sure as hell don't slow down when going over speed humps, I am sure it was one of them that hit my car and two others the other week.

BMW are another law unto themselves. I never give way to 4x4 or BMW there a arrogant lot.

PabloNeruda

Touched a nerve?

Enjoy the extra costs coming your way.

Still, as urban 4x4 drivers seem to enjoy flaunting their wealth, I'm sure they can afford it. I mean, I'm sure they're not stupid enough to buy them on credit just to keep up with the Jones'.........are they?

PabloNeruda

albertross wrote:

You assume that owners buy them as a sort of status symbol, that is a big assumption.

Oh, and read the site.

Every argument you come up with supporting urban ownership and use of 4x4s is comprehensively dismantled.

Have a nice day.

bookworm1363

albertross wrote:

So are buses, lorries, white vans, why pick on 4x4's?

buses = necessary tool
lorries = necessary tool
white vans = necessary tool

4x4 = unnecessary IN TOWN accessory.

Not picking on 4x4 everywhere, only in urban conditions.

I used to drive one myself. In the African jungle.

London and suburbs? Pur-lease. :rolleyes:

tomstickland

Much as I dislike 4x4's, I can't see any justification for hitting them with another tax.

pboae

It's only the media hyping it as a tax on 4x4s. Richmond are proposing a whole sliding scale of charges, with free parking for 'green' cars (electric hybrids, etc) up to big increases for the ones that produce the most CO2. It's comparable with the current pricing for road tax. I don't see anything wrong with it, and for once it's not even just a money makinjg scheme, as they are offering reductions as well.

Mr_Grumpy_7

Just a thought. Why is this extra charge for parking being regarded as a green tax. These cars only pollute when they are being driven, so tax the owners for driving them, not parking them. Surely, the parking charge should be based on the size of the vehicle! Now, as 4x4s are generally larger, they should be liable to a higher parking charge.

Regarding their CO2 emissions, why not reduce road tax and add it onto the cost of fuel. This way those who pollute more, and those who do more miles, would pay more. Much fairer, except as the government already over taxes fuel, it would not go down too well.

livinginhope

Mr Grumpy you have posted exactly what I have been thinking for years,abolish road tax and put the tax on the fuel.ALL cars pollute,but a 4x4 doing 3000 miles a year is not going to pollute as much as a saloon car doing 15000 miles a year is it!
Yes I own a 4x4,it does around 4k a year,half off road and half in town,I would not take too kindly to my local council charging me more for a parking permit for my road when my neighbours drive 15k around town and pay less to park.
Is this kind of prejudice legal? it certainly wouldn't make me change my car,just sell up and move.

Seraphim

I don't know if anyone saw the debate on this on the ITV evening news yesterday?
One guy made a couple of good points...
As mentioned above, surely a less polluting car doing 2000 miles a year is less polluting than a greener car doing 60,000 miles a year?
A lot of homes (particularly the richer ones apparently?) have driveways anyway, so the people who are more likely to own the 4x4s aren't going to need a parking permit.
Older cars are more likely to be driven people who aren't so rich - and we are more likely to have to park on the road. Older cars are (generally) more polluting and so those who can't afford to pay will be the ones who are hit.

I apologise for the really broad brushstrokes....I know there will be plenty of exceptions. I appreciate that something has to be done about carbon emissions but I don't think that this is the best solution.

Seraphim

Incidentally, for anyone who really wants to have their say on this issue - whether for or against - Richmond council are having an online public consultation on the issue. You don't have to give your details or phone anyone - it's all online. The link is here ---> http://www.richmond.gov.uk/CO2_consultation

Please bear in mind that this scheme is currently a proposal and not a definite so the forms they receive should hopefully count!!