Cardiff Council is set to impose higher parking charges on owners of large vehicles, including SUVs and cars weighing over 2,400kg, in a bid to discourage their purchase. The Labour-run council argues that such vehicles are “more polluting, more expensive and more dangerous,” and therefore owners “should pay more for permits”.
The proposed surcharge is part of a new parking policy aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality in the Welsh capital. The council is expected to approve the changes on Thursday, though the exact extra cost for SUV owners has not been disclosed. Currently, a permit in Cardiff costs £35 annually for one car and £90 for a second.
A report to the council highlighted concerns over the increased risk of serious injuries in crashes, the impact of large cars on traffic congestion and parking capacity, and high fuel consumption. It stated: “The proliferation of oversized vehicles is of concern because of their multiple associated harms, including in relation to road danger, carbon emissions, air pollution, resource use and crowding out other road users.”
The report added that “the growing body of evidence supports the introduction of surcharges for such vehicles to discourage uptake.” The policy aims to address the trend of larger vehicles becoming “fast becoming the norm in the UK”.
However, the proposal has drawn criticism from opposition politicians. Andrew RT Davies, Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, described the plan as an “SUV tax” and part of Labour’s “war on motorists”. He said: “So-called progressive activists may think we can cycle everywhere but that isn’t the reality for those of us who live outside metropolitan centres. These latest anti-car proposals show how out of touch the political class are.”
