Hart’s boost for fuel efficient cars

Date: 7 March 2007

Parking season ticket holders using Hart District Council’s car parks will soon have an incentive to go “green”.

Under a new scheme to be introduced in April 2007 as part of the Council’s new budget, people who drive vehicles that emit the least carbon dioxide will qualify for a discount in their parking season tickets.

Proposals agreed by Hart Council’s Cabinet in February will make cars which produce between 115 and 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, including cars like a Vauxhall Corsa or Smart roadster, eligible for a 10% discount on the cost of a annual parking ticket.

Drivers with cars that produce between 110 and 114 grams of CO2 per km, including the diesel-powered Fiat Panda and Citroen C3, will be entitled to a 25% discount on their season ticket.

For example, this means that someone with a week-day parking permit who parks their car in one of the Council’s car parks outside Fleet, will see their annual bill cut from £753 to £565.

And for people with some of the most fuel efficient cars on the market, including the Citroen C1 and the Toyota Aygo, which produce between 100 and 109 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, a parking discount of 30% is on offer.

Commenting on the initiative, Cabinet member for engineering and transport, Cllr David Simpson said:

“At the end of 2006 the Council signed the Nottingham Declaration, showing Hart’s commitment to the environmental agenda. Now we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”

Councillor Simpson, who is also Cabinet champion for combating climate change, added:

“By introducing these big concessions we are making a positive contribution to protecting the environment. For example, parking a normal car in Fleet on an annual six-day permit costs £1,050. But for cars producing between 100 and 109 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre, the fee will fall to £735. All we need now is for drivers to respond.”

Monthly and quarterly car parking tickets also qualify for the same per-centage discounts.

Editor’s notes