Bath is set to implement variable-rate car park charges based on vehicle emissions starting this Friday. Similar to the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) rules in place in London, owners of diesel cars and certain high-emission petrol models will be charged more to use council-owned car parks in the city center. The goal is to incentivize cleaner and more sustainable travel in Bath by asking those with higher-polluting vehicles to pay slightly higher rates. As a result, pricing for the most polluting diesel cars will increase by 47% from £1.70 per hour to £2.50. The Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) Council aims to reduce air pollution in the city, particularly for individuals with heart and lung conditions, by discouraging the use of higher-polluting vehicles.
According to the council, approximately 66% of current car park customers will experience additional charges starting from Friday. A similar scheme for residential parking permits is already in effect in Bath. In this new system, only drivers of petrol cars and models with emissions below 131g/km CO2 will not face price increases. Electric cars are also exempt from the changes. However, all diesel vehicles and more polluting petrol cars will see higher rates. The charges will be calculated based on vehicle emissions and fuel type, following the bands used for vehicle exercise duty (car tax). The council-operated car parks affected by the new emission-based pricing include Avon Street, Bath Sports & Leisure Centre, Cattle Market, Charlotte Street, Claverton Street, Green Park Road, Kingsmead Square, and Manvers Street.
Lambeth Council in London introduced short-stay parking charges based on vehicle duty bands earlier this year, including extra penalties for older diesel cars. Bath is now adopting a similar approach, whereby petrol cars with emissions between 131 and 150g/km CO2 will see costs rise to £1.80 per hour, while diesel cars falling into the same emissions bracket will be charged an additional 50p, totaling £2.30 per hour. Motorists can check their vehicle emissions on the Government’s website to determine whether they will be subject to the charges. Pay-and-display machines in the car parks will calculate the charges automatically when drivers enter their registration numbers. However, foreign-registered vehicles without DVLA records will be charged the highest rate for their duration of stay, which has raised concerns about possible negative effects on tourism in Bath.
The new variable-rate charges have prompted some insiders to express worries about potential impacts on Bath’s major tourist attractions, such as the abbey. While the scheme aims to deter drivers of older and more polluting vehicles, accuracy in calculating bespoke parking prices based on number plate input is crucial to avoid overcharging drivers. The charges build upon Bath’s existing Clean Air Zone, which was the first emission charging zone introduced outside of London two years ago. With increasing attention on reducing air pollution, Bath is joining the growing number of cities in implementing measures to improve air quality and reduce congestion. However, critics argue that these changes disproportionately affect drivers of older diesel and petrol cars, as well as non-UK-registered vehicles, by significantly increasing parking costs. Careful consideration of the potential consequences for tourism and visitors to Bath will be important moving forward.
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