As parking permits in Brighton & Hove keep rising during the cost-of-living crisis, car holders, especially those who own a high emissions car, struggle to afford their lives with a vehicle.
In Brighton, the amount of money a resident has to pay for a parking permit depends on two factors – the area and the emission category of the car. With this scheme, the council wants to ensure a more environmentally friendly future without pollution through emissions.
While low emission cars cost £98.55 for a 12-month permit in the cheapest zone, the light-touch areas, residents with high emission cars, which usually tend to be older cars with bigger engines, have to pay £229.95 per year for the same permit. This is an increase of 58% just based off of the emissions of a car.
Labour Councillor Lloyd Russell-Moyle said: “While I have not always supported steep parking permit increases in recent time, (…) I continue to support a tiered pricing of parking permits that is aligned with environmental sustainability.”
Current debates on whether parking permits costs should increase further, continue to aggravate the public.
Leo Waters, University of Brighton student and high emissions car owner, said: “This is a joke. I already pay more road tax because of my emission category. This is just a way of keeping people who cannot afford a modern car off the road.”
Comparing the cheapest fare out of all areas, £98.55, to the highest one, £412.45, there is a price difference of 78% between the emission categories.