Lambeth Residents Outraged as Parking Charges Surge.

Lambeth Council says this is about fighting pollution, but the most extensive percentage hikes are for low-emission cars! Permit fees for them will go from £40 to as much as £190, representing a 385% increase. Whilst some will see a £500 charge. Visitor/trade permits will also face a rise of up to a staggering 30%, which will significantly impact local businesses as they seek to recover post-Brexit and post-Covid. 

An analysis from the Lib Dem Council Group indicates that the Labour-controlled Council’s planned parking fees hike will raise an additional £6 million in revenue. However, it remains unclear whether this will be reinvested back towards improving public transport in the borough. 

Although Lambeth Labour claims the proposed changes will make “the parking fees structure fairer and more reflective of the different levels of pollution produced by vehicles”, the Council’s equality impact assessment on the proposed parking fees hike appears to contradict Lambeth Labour’s council election manifesto pledge to “ensure parking charges are fair and equitable”.

Local Lambeth resident, Ms Linden, stated: “These increases to [parking] charges are outrageous and hard for me to afford. My partner uses the car to visit and needs the car to get here with bags (he is 72 years old). 

 We both use public transport for most journeys, but sometimes, having a car is vital. I bring my shopping back by car and take my old dog to the park because she can’t walk there and back. I am being penalised all the time for just living my life as a good and honest citizen. I have been a vegetarian for 49 years, so I have done my bit and continue to do my bit for the planet! If I had the money, I would get an electric car, but affording the permit is hard enough, so there is no question. My car is low-emission, or I wouldn’t have it!”

In a damning verdict, the Council’s impact analysis states that low-income residents are less likely to own a car. But it admits that those who do are less able to switch to cleaner, low-emission vehicles without financial support in the form of a subsidy or a scrappage scheme. Therefore, the proposed parking fees contradict Lambeth Labour’s council election manifesto pledge to “ensure parking charges are fair and equitable”. 

Councillor Donna Harris, Leader of the Lambeth Lib Dem Council Group, commented: 

“The Lib Dem Council Group supports parking charges based on car emission levels, which Lib Dem-controlled Richmond Council pioneered over a decade ago. However, we are deeply concerned by the massive increase in parking charges for low-emission vehicles, which we believe is completely wrong. 

The Lib Dem Group also strongly support active travel, and the increases in parking fees must not unfairly burden low-income households. The Council must work to ensure that all residents, regardless of income, have access to cleaner transportation options. A more carrot than stick approach would not go a miss. 

Therefore, we are calling on the Council to improve local transport services and lobby the Labour Mayor before imposing these higher charges. The Council also need to listen to residents’ demands for more secure cycle storage and EV charging points if we are going to make the modal shift away from fossil fuel polluting vehicles.”