Councils in the capital turn into guzzler muzzlers

A third of boroughs are already adding a levy to parking permits for residents of high-polluting vehicles, or are considering doing so.

They include Richmond, Hackney, Lambeth and Haringey, while Islington - which already charges £95 for cars with an engine over 1400cc - has been holding a referendum on whether to increase this to £200 for cars over 2500cc, the first such poll of its kind in Britain. Voting closed yesterday.

Camden and Waltham Forest will bring in premiums later in the year, charging owners of gas-guzzlers £145 and £90 respectively for permits.

Tower Hamlets is planning to hold a public consultation on the issue.

Boroughs that are either considering introducing a carbon levy or have not ruled out such a move include Kensington & Chelsea, Enfield, Greenwich, Lewisham, Merton, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham and Sutton.

The trend for charging for parking according to a vehicle's engine size means some drivers will be paying many times more than others.

But the AA said an annual parking fee of more than £100 was unreasonable and that higher-priced permits encouraged people to turn their front gardens into drives - "an environmental own goal".

Spokesman Luke Bosdet said: "The idea of residential parking schemes was to protect residents from outsiders coming in and taking their spaces and the money levied from permits was designed to cover the administration.

"But some boroughs have decided to use the permits to try to influence car ownership and, frankly, a lot of residents regard this as a gross betrayal of the original concept. It's taxation hidden behind a green smokescreen." He said a typical Londoner's mileage was far lower than that of a driver living outside the M25 and green penalties should reflect this.

Environmental campaigners said the measures were vital to tackle climate change. In Islington, 14 per cent of CO2 emissions are transport-related, a large proportion of them from private cars.

Council leader James Kempton said: "As a community, we are taking bold steps to tackle climate change.

"We are challenging individuals to reflect on the cars they drive , the pollution

they cause and their impact on the environment."

Many boroughs have also slashed the cost of parking for low-emission vehicles.

In Westminster, residents who drive eco-friendly cars are entitled to free parking, a saving of almost £80 a year.

"This policy gives people a clear financial incentive to choose a car which is less harmful to the environment and help reduce pollution," said Danny Chalkley, cabinet member for economic development and transport. "This carrot, not

stick approach is the best way to give the green agenda mass appeal."

Friends of the Earth campaigner Jenny Bates added: "Local authorities have an important role to play in tackling climate change by introducing policies that cut CO2 emissions. There must be a concerted effort to tackle emissions, including persuading drivers to buy more fuel-efficient cars, but the real power lies with the Chancellor, who must increase road tax for gas-guzzling vehicles and cut it for fuel-efficient models."