City council approves plans to make SUV drivers pay more for parking

A city council has approved plans to impose higher parking charges on drivers of large vehicles.

Cardiff Council will increase the cost of parking permits for owners of SUVs (sports utility vehicles) or cars weighing more than 2,400kg.

A report to the council claimed large SUVs, such as Range Rovers, are “more polluting, more expensive and more dangerous”, and therefore owners “should pay more for permits”.

It is hoped the surcharge will “discourage uptake” of the larger vehicles, which it says are “fast becoming the norm in the UK”.

The council approved the changes at a cabinet meeting on Thursday as part of a new parking policy aimed at reducing congestion and improving air quality in the city.

Cabinet member Dan De’Ath told the meeting that parts of the city had become “absolutely saturated with cars”, with some drivers leaving their vehicles blocking pavements.

While it is not clear how much extra SUV owners will be charged, a permit in Cardiff currently costs £35 a year for one car, and £90 for a second.

The report sets out concerns about an increased risk of serious injuries in car crashes, the impact of big cars on traffic congestion and parking capacity, and high fuel consumption.

It said: “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.

“Overall, it is considered that the growing body of evidence supports the introduction of surcharges for such vehicles to discourage uptake.”

Andrew RT Davies, Conservative Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central and former Welsh party leader, said the proposals of the Labour-run council amounted to an “SUV tax”.

He said: “This is Labour’s latest crusade in their war on motorists, following hot on the heels of the 20mph policy.

“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.”

A Reform UK Wales spokesperson said: “The Labour policy of making misery for motorists needs to end.

“Reform will back our economy and back our motorists by scrapping blanket 20mph speed limits and ending the war on motorists in Cardiff and right across Wales.”

Welcoming the decision, Oliver Lord, UK head of Clean Cities, said that Cardiff has shown “real vision” by standing up to the SUV cars “taking over our streets”.

He added: “It’s only fair that those driving the biggest, heaviest and most polluting vehicles pay more for the extra space and danger they bring.

“This is a common-sense policy that will make our city streets safer, cleaner and fairer for everyone. Other cities across the UK could learn from Cardiff’s leadership.”

The lobby group said it believes Cardiff is the first city in the UK to put the proposals about larger cars and SUVs to a cabinet vote.