Your Comments

Perhaps you should have read the proposed changes before writing this article. Firstly, the higher charges are aimed at vehicles with high CO2 emissions and households with more than one vehicle, 4x4s are not mentioned. Secondly, the the highest proposed cost of a permit is £450, not £750 as you imply. £750 would be the cost to a household with 2 cars in the highest price band.

High charges / taxes for more polluting vehicles may be a good idea, but in my opinion it would make more sense to impose them on car use, (i.e. through fuel taxes or congestion charging), not on parking.

The principle seems to be on car ownership and how many, rather than use.
The assumptions being made are seriously flawed, and will undoubtly lead to even more problems for the merry band of councillor's who thought it up.

Mostly at the ballot box.

Let's face it this is just another excuse to make more money out of the governments (and local councils) current cash cow, the motorist. They know we have no viable alternatives to driving so spend their time thinking up more elaborate ways of fleecing us.

This latest report on climate change is another example. The climate is changing so let's increase taxes on motorists instead of going after the real polluters in heavy industry. It wouldn't surprise me to see a report suggesting that in order to tackle the increase in violent crime the government are going to increase taxes for motorists. After all, I'm sure violent criminals drive cars so if we can tax them off the road then they mightn't be able to travel to commit a crime.

Will we ever see the day that someone in government applies some innovative thinking to a problem instead of just reaching for the easy solution of increased taxation.

As I understand it, from the police, a valid vehicle tax disc allows one to park on a public road anywhere unless there is a restriction or a liability of the parked vehicle being a danger to other road users. It seems that some councils have made their own civil torts to suit their coffers, and Richmond is no exception.

I would suggest this is purely a money making venture, dream't up by someone in the Liberal Party who is fearful for their seat and trying to please the ultra left in their constituancy. Unfortunately, the die is cast, and other councils will now jump on the bandwagon, since they will equally see it as another way of extracting money from the ever burdened ratepayer.

One only has to see how councils have expanded their staff umpteen times in the past 10 years to realise that they need ever more dosh to pay the wages and gold plated pensions.

well the motorists pay yet again. i am sick to the back teeth of taxes and more taxes .its got nothing to do with the environment just another excuse to rob us. surely a car parked up is a no emission vehicle?? just a farce isnt it? i am getting soooo annoyed by being ripped off all the time.you look at all the new proposals and its all about revenue.

I know, lets go back to horse drawn carts and stay at home. Get real! China refuses to accept the issues, America refuses to do anything about it what the hell is money making- grabbing Blair/Brown going to do, what impresion are we going to make on the world if the two biggist nations will not even prepared to do anything. Peeing and wind come to mind

This comment has been removed as it was found to be in breach of our Blog Policies.

I do agree with Doug Law (above). Freedoms are being taken away from us - based on our income. Those that can afford a 4x4 or like will still drive them when the cost of owning, driving and parking them rises.

In fact, it will likely increase the numbers of 4x4s on the road; as those with lower incomes drive less and drive smaller cars, the arrogant 4x4 drivers/owners will have more space to lumber around - they are already taking over the pavements.

Perversely, it will take draconian measures to ensure real freedom and equality of choice, such as legislating against the use of 4x4s in urban areas. Shock, horror, I hear the 4x4 fraternity shout. But I wonder what they would say if masses of people started driving lorries in London?

Then you would hear them say "ridiculous, unacceptable.... why does anyone need to drive around in a 20 ton truck?" Simple; they would have as much right to drive around in a truck as the 4x4 driver has to drive a 4x4.

Who needs a four wheel drive to do the school run or go to the shops or get from home to the office? 4x4s are actually commercial vehicles with added mod cons. They are inherently unsafe for their occupants and for other road users (although they are improving slowly).

Lets get such vehicles banned from towns and lets have legislation that addresses the green issues but impacts on everyone equally.

Just to add, the Vehicle Excise Duty is also already based on CO2 emissions so all drivers (who tax their car) pay this.

So if youre a car driver you pay for CO2 emissions through VED. If youre a company car driver, you pay it again through tax and now if you live in Richmond, you pay again through a permit.

Very good point 'Friendly Dutch'; legally, no one has the automatic right to park on the highway. Historically it is for the passage of 'passengers', whether they be on foot, horseback, pedal cycle or more recently on or in mechanically propelled vehicles. Unfortunately, the later have virtually 'taken over the world' and think they own the highway/road. Vast numbers of vehicles are already allowed to park illegally (by reducing the width of the carriageway to less than the width of two vehicles) and thus cause an obstruction. The time really has come for drivers of vehicles to get in line and start abiding by the rules - all drivers (including the well-off) and all of the rules.

This comment has been removed as it was found to be in breach of our Blog Policies.

The parking permit gives the holder the right to park in a designated space, it does not guarantee a parking space.
Can you think of any other thing that you would gladly pay for with no guarantee of receiving that which you have paid for? If I pay to park in a car-park I expect a parking space don't I?
If this council gets away with this money raising exercise I predict that their next venture will be on houses with parking spaces. Charge extra rates for possible parking spaces around peoples homes, this could be a huge money spinner!
It is all very well the councils and government bleating on about environmental taxes but I would like to know where this money is being spent. We have had little or no feedback as to how much money has been raised and where it is going. Before agreeing to any more "environmental taxes" we should all ask where will the money go.
By the way, did you know that methane is by far and away a much worse green-house gas than Co2? Every animal on the planet emits methane as part of its digestive process. Worse still, vegetarians give off more than carnivores!!
So, the self righteous vegetarians pop down to their favourite spot for a bit of elevenses bleating about the car drivers emit more green-house gasses than the guy who has a car parked outside his house all week and travels to work by train. Should we propose a tax on vegetarians?
And another thing, there is no such thing as green energy. How was your electricity generated? What process was used in building the generator? How was the cable that feeds the cable to your house/train manufactured?
I agree with an earlier poster in that we should start using carrots instead of the stick.
Personally I would use the train more often if it was not so expensive, less overcrowded and more frequent.
Every time the government hikes up fuel prices it increases costs for the transport companies who in turn put up fares. Net benefit, none except that the government coffers are once again swollen by several million more in revenues. I thought the idea was to get us out of our cars (park them) and onto trains and buses.
How about more park and ride services. Every railway line leading into London should have a new station built. Not in a town centre but near areas which can be turned into car parks as they do in France.
Until we see some serious investment of the monies gathered from motorists into alternative energy sources and public transport, I like so many others will be cynical as to the motives of the people in charge.

Am being simplistic or is it not right that the purpose of a road is to enable us to get from one place to another.If that is the case what is the point of allowing any cars to park on the road and therefore deprive other road users of the space to move around? If the average taxpayer was asked whether they were happy to spend a certain amount of money to provide an individual with a free parking space, I think we can forsee the answer. Therefore isn't it right to charge for all road parking and that money be returned directly into paying for the upkeep and renewal of these roads and not into the coffers of the local government to offset rates. Maybe there should no free road parking anywhere, how about that ,instead of a mileage tax?

I am sick and tired of hearing 4 x 4 drivers described as 'school run' drivers and gas guzzlers! We live in the country and own our own wood business. We NEED a 4 x 4 vehicle to drive on the roads and to carry our product! So do all the farmers who live out here. Our pick up is NOT a flashy crew cab style. It only has 2 seats. I actually fail to see the advantage of a 4 seated pick up, as it means the load capacity in the back is reduced.

We don't use our vehicle for school runs or anything similar. I really resent not only this totally unfair tax, but also being tarred with the same brush as the 'Chelsea set'.

If this tax really IS aimed at the 'rich' - then tax 4 wheel drive owners by post code. As it is, it is the farmers, builders, joiners and people who live in the country and rely on a 4 wheel drive to conduct their businesses who are being hit.

Has anybody asked the Mayor of Richmond about his official car? I wonder if he practises what he preaches and is driven around in a small economical car?

Something has got to be done before the Great British public are seen as just sheep.co.uk. Next election, vote for who-ever is for banning political correctness, then we will be able to make the comments we REALLY want to make about these nonsence, borderline, thieving motoring fleecing schemes!!

This comment has been removed as it was found to be in breach of our Blog Policies.