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Taxi driver John King: ‘I’m not paying’ |
‘Legalised mugging’ protest as drivers face parking hikes
Motorists who cut car emissions say they still pay more for ‘green’ permits
A TAXI driver and a former AA patrolman are among angry motorists who claimed this week they are being “legally mugged” under Islington’s new green parking permit system.
The scheme – one of the first of its kind in the country – bases the cost of annual parking permits on exhaust emissions in the case of new vehicles or engine size for cars more than seven years old.
But irate motorists maintain the system is full of anomalies and argue that drivers of modest or environmentally friendly vehicles are being hit by a “stealth tax” aimed at deterring four-wheel gas-guzzlers.
Following last week’s exclusive Tribune report, a local motorists’ campaign, Fair Parking, is being launched to co-ordinate complaints.
Taxi driver John King’s new vehicle, bought this year, is fitted with the latest technology aimed at cutting fumes. And former AA man George Wright drives a car that uses non-polluting liquid petroleum gas (LPG). But both find themselves paying more for parking.
Retired Mr Wright, 60, from Highbury Quadrant, a former motor mechanic, thought that by converting to LPG he would be paying the lower permit charge. He recently had his green 1998 Mondeo converted to the green liquid petroleum gas at a cost of £2,000.
“I did it to save the environment because emissions are extremely low,” he said. “Also, at 48p a litre it saves on fuel.”
He’s currently paying £95 a year for his annual parking permit and assumed it would drop to £55 but, under the new rules, he will pay £160.
Mr Wright said: “When I contacted Islington Council I was told the increase was based on engine size because my car was manufactured before 2001. They didn’t seem to care that there were no emissions, which I rather thought was the point of this scheme.
“It’s legalised mugging and people like me are spitting feathers.”
Mr King, 58, who lives in Bewdly Street, off Liverpool Road, paid £32,000 for his new taxi.
He said: “It’s got a spanking new two-litre engine with the most up-to-date emissions controls laid down by the government.” Despite this, the cost of his annual parking permit has more than doubled, from £95 to £200.
He may become the first driver to launch a legal challenge over the increase. “I’m in a situation where I can work when I like,” Mr King said. “I will make sure I leave my home before 8.30am and not return until after 6.30pm at night. That way they can’t charge me a penny for parking. I’m adamant I’m not paying.”
Former marketing consultant Liz Case, from Tufnell Park, is co-ordinating complaints against the scheme under the informal campaign group Fair Parking.
A mother of three young children, she drives a 2000 Vauxhall Zafira people carrier with a 2.2-litre engine and is being charged £195 for a parking permit. She said: “People are very angry about this. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to how they make these charges. I suspect it’s one giant publicity campaign to show how green the Lib Dems are. However, it seems to have backfired.”
Green permits were introduced following the first referendum of its kind in Britain.
Labour councillor Janet Burgess will raise the permit prices at the next full meeting of the council in December. “I want to know from the council what they are doing to make sure people are not being treated unfairly,” she said. |
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