Oxford plans to increase parking charge for heavier vehicles

Oxford City Council Green councillor Emily Kerr has proposed a motion calling for the introduction of the increased costs for higher emitting and/or heavier vehicles in Oxford.

It will be discussed and voted on at a full city council meeting on Monday.

The change would follow in the footsteps of London Boroughs such as Greenwich and Lewisham and cities like Bath that have emissions-based parking fees in place.

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Independent Temple Cowley ward councillor, and taxi driver, Saj Malik said: "I think this is another war on car drivers and the economy of the city.

"It is an anti-car scheme.

Saj Malik. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"Oxford has a car history and the message we are sending is to buy our cars but not drive them.

"I think all cars are equal."

The motion, seconded by Lois Muddiman, states: "Larger cars cause more damage to our roads, are more likely to seriously injure or kill pedestrians, and take up more valuable public space.

"They’re outgrowing the design of our cities, especially small medieval cities like Oxford."

Mr Malik said that "all fatalities" had been caused by HGVs rather than SGVs despite SGVs being referenced in the motion.

Ms Kerr said: "People choosing to drive small city cars should pay less.

"Cars are bloating and becoming bigger.

"In general bigger cars are driven by richer people."

When questioned about Mr Malik's comments, the St Mary's ward councillor said: "We absolutely need to take action on HGVs encouraging planners and developers to adopt CLOCS.

Emily Kerr. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

"However that is not relevant to this motion which is about car parks owned by the city council where HGVs do not park."

She added that the 'danger aspect' was only one part of the motion which primarily discussed space taken up by the cars.

"All cars are certainly not equal," Ms Kerr added.

There were also questions from Mr Malik over larger families on potentially lower incomes needing a larger car.

He said: "Not all bigger cars are driven by richer people.

"You can get get a £1500 SUV and that doesn't make you rich.

"We don't live in China where we ask people to have two children.

"There are also often sports teams and young children who use these carparks.

Worcester Street, Oxford.

"I think this motion is absolutely useless if you ask me."

Ms Kerr said that details of the proposals and affected vehicles had not been finalised and exemptions would be considered as part of this.

"If there are a lot of deprived young people driving enormous cars that would be easy to fix," she concluded.

Paris recently tripled charges for SUVs parking in the city.

Charges to higher-emitting vehicles in Bath were first considered by the Conservatives in 2018.