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A welsh The council could become the first in the UK to impose higher parking charges on drivers of larger vehicles such as 4x4s in a bid to discourage people from buying them.
cardiff The council is proposing to increase the cost of parking permits for owners suv (Sports Utility Vehicles) or cars weighing more than 2,400 kg.
They are expected to approve the changes under the new parking policy on Thursday reducing congestion and improving air quality In the city.
A council report claimed that large SUVs such as Range Rovers are “more polluting, more expensive and more dangerous”, and so owners “should pay more for permits”.
It is hoped the surcharge will “discourage” larger vehicles, which it says is “increasingly becoming the norm in the UK”.
While it’s unclear how much extra SUV owners will be charged, permits in Cardiff currently cost £35 a year for one car and £90 for a second.
The report raised concerns about the increased risk of serious injuries in car crashes, the impact of larger cars on traffic congestion and parking capacity, and higher fuel consumption.
It said: “The proliferation of oversized vehicles is a matter of concern as it causes a range of harms including road hazards, carbon emissions, air pollution, resource use and crowding out other road users.
“Overall, it is believed that a growing body of evidence supports the imposition of a surcharge to discourage such vehicles.”