With new charge points for electric cars, and cheaper parking for the environmentally-friendliest cars, there has never been a better time to ‘think green’ when it comes to getting around the borough.
Ealing Council announced its new transport strategy over the summer, which will see the cleanest and greenest drivers in the borough benefiting from a range of new measures.
It is part of an ambitious commitment to improve air quality in the local area, as council leader Julian Bell explained: “Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of almost 9,500 Londoners each year, which is why we are taking strong action and encouraging residents to make sustainable travel choices. These choices can ultimately save lives.
“Our new transport strategy is making it easier and cheaper for local people to drive an environmentally-friendly car by offering the best value-for-money permits for controlled parking zones (CPZs) and installing new charge points for electric cars to make these more easily accessible.”
ELECTRIC CARS ON THE RISE
There could be up to 11,500 electric cars on Ealing’s roads by 2025 and, by 2040, electric vehicles will comprise of up to 54% of total sales in the UK.
This is why boosting the number of charging points available to drivers is central to the council’s long-term plans.
Councillor Bell added: “There are already 40 electric car charge points available across the borough and we are committed to increasing numbers even further.
“We are looking to increase them in areas easily accessible to drivers such as stations, car parks, new developments and taxi ranks. It will ensure the borough is a place where it is easy for people to make environmentally-friendly choices about travel and ditch older, more polluting vehicles.”
NEW PRICING SYSTEM FOR PERMITS
The changes to CPZ permits – with reduced prices for environmentally-friendly cars and higher charges for more polluting vehicles – are due to come into effect soon.
Councillor Mik Sabiers, the council’s cabinet member for environment and highways, said: “We are offering cheaper CPZ parking permits to owners of the most environmentally-friendly vehicles.
“The new pricing system is determined by a number of factors, such as the type of fuel the car uses and the amount of carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide emitted. The number of vehicles registered at a given address is also a factor.
“The new system should encourage drivers to consider the greenest option when choosing a car in the future”
It means that the cheapest permit for an electric vehicle could be just £20 – a reduction of almost two thirds of the previous price.
Councillor Sabiers continued: “There are currently just over 27,000 CPZ permit holders in the borough and the majority of these permits are for one vehicle. Of these, most are petrol fuelled. A resident in an all-day CPZ, driving one car with a smaller petrol engine could also see their annual fee reduced to just £75.”
For owners of the most polluting cars, charges are set to rise, with tariffs based on vehicle emission levels and the numbers of cars in a household.
The changes will be introduced as permits are renewed or bought. Existing permit holders should have all been written to.
Other London boroughs have already introduced similar surcharges for high polluting, diesel engines. It is hoped that the new system will encourage residents to switch to greener cars and even reduce the number of cars in their household.
Councillor Sabiers concluded: “Everyone can make a big difference – whether it’s by switching to electric cars; or by walking, cycling or using public transport more, especially for short journeys. By doing so it would help to reduce traffic congestion and the levels of air pollution, particularly in our town centres; as well as improve your health and wellbeing.”
For more information visit www.ealing.gov.uk/parking
