Big cars to pay more for parking
(06 March 2007)

Plans to charge higher parking charges to drivers with bigger cars could be implemented this year in Norwich, it has emerged.

In a scheme to encourage the use of smaller cars that produce fewer carbon emissions, cars measuring more than 4.45 meters in length would be required to pay £30 per year, nearly twice the charge for those measuring less than 3.92 meters, the Norwich Evening News reports.

Free permits will also be available to those who drive vehicles running on alternative fuel.

A Norwich City Council spokesperson told the publication: "As well as taking up less space, smaller cars also produce, on average, less greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution than larger cars.

As part of our sustainable transport strategy we want to encourage the use of smaller cars, and car sharing."

The council will gain information on car length from details provided by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Last month, the European Commission proposed a requirement forcing automakers to improve new cars' fuel efficiency by 20 per cent within five years.