Islington Parking Policy

Islington Coluncil have initiated a parking policy in respect of residents' parking fees. Islington is divided into parking zones for residents. In those zones are bays in which they park upon payment of a fee, a fee which is dependent upon the co2 emission of their vehicle. These fees vary from £0 to £200. I do not want to debate these amounts. What I would like to ask is this: Is using the co2 emission as a basis for the fee logical, rational or even valid?

Why I ask is because the co2 emission occurs when the vehicle has its engine running. When the vehicle is parked the engine is not running, therefore there is no emission. On the basis of that fact there is no difference between a coach and a mini in the parking bay apart from the physical size of the vehicle. When the driver switches on the engine he/she has changed the parked car into a potentially moving car - which is recognised in law, for if a passing policeman sees them using their mobile they can be booked for it with possible penalty points in consequence.

I no longer own or drive a car, but I understand that the Road Tax fee incorporates the co2 emission of the vehicle. Thus the use of that criterion by Islington Council makes it another tax, and thereby a money-raising device. They argue it is a means to get people to use their feet and bikes, that is an Environmental Stimulus.

Past comments like this have not raised any debate from readers, but what do you think?