Emissions-based parking charges approved

Drivers of more polluting cars will pay high charges to park in Reading

Plans to introduce emissions-based parking charges in Reading have been approved.

Under the new scheme, motorists driving the most polluting vehicles will pay higher fees for parking permits and at on-street meters.

Reading Borough Council said poor air quality was the UK's biggest environmental threat to public health and believed its scheme would help reduce this risk for residents.

The authority estimates that about half of drivers will pay more because of the change, which it is aiming to implement in February.

Under the scheme, drivers will be charged about £1.20 an hour for vehicles with low emissions and up to £3.40 for the most polluting.

The exact figures will vary as busier town centre roads typically cost more to park on than streets further away.

It comes after similar schemes were introduced in several London boroughs, as well Bath and North East Somerset Council, where it has been claimed the changes have had a positive impact on air quality.

Councillor John Ennis, Reading council's transport lead, said: "We are trying to tackle pollution as it affects the health of our residents, particularly children, older people and those with heart and lung conditions."

He added that transport accounted for 30% of all carbon emissions nationally so the authority was also "heavily investing in improving public transport and encourage cycling and walking".