Fury as 4x4s drivers in well-known UK metropolis to be taxed extra underneath ‘outrageous’ plan | UK | News | EUROtoday

People who drive SUVs in Oxford can pay extra for parking underneath a model new plan being introduced in by the town’s council.

As a part of a movement put ahead by the Green Party, SUV drivers may pay extra to park within the well-known metropolis as a result of they declare heavier vehicles are a larger threat to pedestrians and do extra injury to the roads.

Green Councillor of Osney and St Thomas Lois Muddiman mentioned larger vehicles have an even bigger impression on the general public funds than smaller vehicles and that many drivers didn’t want a large automotive.

She defined: “If pedestrians are hit, they are more likely to be seriously injured by larger cars as they go underneath the vehicle due to its higher ride height.

“SUVs also cause more damage to our medieval roads, which aren’t made for these big vehicles, and there are greater emissions.”

Ms Muddiman continued: “In our view, a large number of drivers don’t need to have such a big car.

“Larger cars are more expensive, so in the same way that the wealthy should be paying more for public services, larger car owners should pay more if they choose to have them. There’s nothing behind the proposals [that isn’t] common sense.”

In response, the Alliance of British Drivers Brian Macdowall instructed the Telegraph that the brand new proposals had been “absolutely outrageous”. He claimed: “All vehicles using public spaces should be charged the same amount.

“There is no case for singling out cars for their size, weight or emissions. A vehicle is a vehicle. This is just another attempt to use the motorist as a cash cow. There seems to be no let-up in trying to raise revenue at the expense of drivers.”

The new proposal has been impressed by new parking guidelines in Paris which have seen parking charges for individuals driving SUVs triple.

Residents of Paris voted to implement the foremost new change in a referendum held earlier this 12 months with 54.55 % voting for the movement.

Deputy Director of Clean Cities Jens Mueller mentioned that the brand new guidelines confirmed that SUVs had been “incompatible with urban life”.

SUVs may be significantly larger than different vehicles and consequently, take up more room on the roads. What’s extra, alongside some electrical vehicles, they are often a lot heavier and place larger strain on the street floor.

Mr Mueller mentioned that the vote was “an important message from Parisians that monster SUVs are simply incompatible with urban life”.

He added: “Paris has already leapfrogged towards a city where people can easily walk, cycle, and enjoy liveable neighbourhoods.

“Cities across Europe will hopefully be inspired to follow the example of the French capital.”

Oxford City Council has been contacted for remark.