Town's emissions-based parking charges begin

Emissions-based charges that will lead to about half of a town's drivers paying more for pay-and-display on-street parking and residents' permits have come into force.

Reading Borough Council said the changes had been introduced as part of an effort to improve air quality.

The increase will affect vehicles with emission levels of 151g/km (grams per kilometre) or above, which it said meant most petrol vehicles would escape any extra charges.

Motorists using petrol vehicles with emission levels above 151g/km of CO2 will pay at least 20% more.

Diesel vehicles' owners with that classification will pay at least 25% more.

The council said it expected about half of vehicles to see no increase, while a quarter will face its lowest tariff.

Nationally, any vehicle producing at least 151g/km is included in band G or above for emissions.

Motorists with vehicles unaffected by the changes will be charged £1 to pay for 20 minutes in Reading's Inner Central area.

But motorists driving the most polluting diesel vehicles - producing 255g/km or more - will need to stump up £2.30.

Similar charges have been introduced in several London boroughs, Bath and North East Somerset.

John Ennis, lead councillor for transport, said good air quality was a priority for the authority.

"We know that transport accounts for around 30% of carbon emissions nationally and the introduction of emission-based parking charges is one way the council is working to reduce its impact," he said.