14
August
2018
|
17:07
Europe/London

City of London Corporation tackles air pollution with London’s first environmentally friendly parking tariff

The City of London Corporation has announced the introduction of new charges for on-street parking in the Square Mile starting Monday 20 August 2018.

The new parking charges will use a ground-breaking parking solution, RingGo’s Emissions Based Parking product, which will target high polluting transport with higher charges while rewarding drivers of low emission vehicles with lower tariffs.

The initiative aims to incentivise motorists to make more environmentally friendly choices and improve air quality across the Square Mile by reducing nitrogen oxides and harmful particulates.

RingGo’s Emissions Based Parking product will automatically assess the type of vehicle being parked and charge tariffs based on the level of pollution emitted by the vehicle. Although the product is being used elsewhere in London, the City Corporation is the first to offer a range of charges dependent on the vehicle’s fuel type.

The following tariff bands will operate on weekdays from 8am to 7pm when air quality is at its worst:

Type of vehicle

Cost per 15 mins

Cost per hour

Low emission (e.g. electric, hybrid)

£1

£4.00

Petrol vehicles registered from 2005 onwards

£1.30

£5.20

Diesel vehicles registered from 2015 onwards

£1.30

£5.20

Other

£1.70

£6.80

The RingGo app is a cashless parking solution. Motorists still choosing to use cash at a machine, rather than paying with RingGo, will pay the highest rate.

Chris Hayward, Planning and Transportation Committee Chairman at the City of London Corporation, comments: “We have seen other areas of London penalise worst offenders such as diesel cars. We are taking this one step further by not only applying punitive measures for these worst offenders but by supporting and encouraging motorists to consider other modes of transport and switch to cleaner vehicles in the future.

“98% of all parking in the City is paid for by mobile phone so RingGo’s Emissions Based Parking is a great way of reminding motorists of the impact of their journey each and every time they travel.

 “The Square Mile is one of London’s busiest areas, therefore, it is only right that the City of London Corporation continues to prioritise providing a safe and healthy environment for its workers, visitors and residents.”

Peter O’Driscoll, UK Country Manager for RingGo, agrees, saying: “The Government is promoting Clean Air Zones as the best way to influence motorists’ behaviour. But these take several years to set up, not to mention requiring considerable expenditure. With no physical infrastructure needed, RingGo’s Emissions Based Parking provides similar outcomes at a fraction of the cost and can be set up in a matter of weeks.

“It’s the ultimate quick and easy way to encourage more responsible motoring.”

The introduction of environmentally friendly tariffs for on-street parking charges is one of the many measures being introduced by the City Corporation to improve air quality in the Square Mile.

City residents in the Barbican who use an electric vehicle now have access to 30 permanent charging points across the iconic Grade II-listed estate.

The Lower Emission Neighbourhood project works with businesses through its CityAir Programme whilst leading a London-wide crackdown on drivers who leave their engines idling. The City Corporation’s CityAir app provides over 27,000 Londoners with low pollution travel routes across the capital, with advice and alerts when air pollution is high.

This year, the City Corporation launched a clean air cargo bike delivery scheme which helps the Square Mile’s businesses tackle toxic air pollution by shifting deliveries from diesel and petrol vans to cargo bicycles.

And in 2016 it agreed a deal with Addison Lee - London’s biggest private hire taxi firm - to automatically switch hybrid taxis to ‘electric mode’ in key areas of the Square Mile. The City Corporation has banned the purchase of diesel vehicles from its own fleet of 300 vehicles, where there is a clean market alternative.

It has also introduced a City-wide 20mph zone, and its new procurement rules have brought in tight restrictions on harmful emissions from bulldozers and generators.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

About the City of London Corporation

  • The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

About RingGo

  • RingGo is the UK’s leading cashless parking solution, offered by 138 local authorities (21 of which are London Councils), seven rail operators and private operators such as NCP.
  • 13 million UK motorists are registered on the RingGo database and 5 million parking sessions are paid for each month using the service.
  • RingGo was developed within the UK and has been offered since 2004.