Exhaust pipe. Pic: Steevven1

Hackney Council has approved higher parking permit charges that will be come into effect by 2017.

The higher charges will mean that cars that pollute more have to pay more.

Cars built before 2001 will now move up a band in the charging scheme, reflecting the levels of CO2 they produce. Additionally there will be a £50 levy for diesel vehicles.

Limits to the height, weight and length of vehicles in short-stay parking will at the same time be removed. The council believes that this will benefit local businesses.

The higher prices will be phased in over the next three years.

There will be no changes to the price of permits in 2015. In 2016 renewed permits will be subject to a 50 per cent increase of the proposed charge difference. Full charges will be in place by 2017.

The Parking Permit Review aims to lower air pollution and copy similar ‘green-charging’ policies already carried out in neighbouring boroughs.

The council hopes to dissuade residents from using higher polluting modes of transport and is calling for people to use more public transport or walk.

Councillor Feryal Demirci, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods said they will be contacting residents and business directly to male them aware of the changes.

She said: “The approval of the Parking Permits Review clearly shows how seriously Hackney Council is taking the issue of tackling air pollution in our borough.”

“We know that 4,300 deaths per year in London are linked to pollution and, with some areas of Hackney failing to meet EU air quality levels, we hope that the change in permits and the growth in sustainable transport will help to make Hackney a cleaner, healthier place to live and work.”