Some local councils across the UK have been considering charging more for bigger cars to park in public – and drivers are not happy about it.
Cardiff is the latest area to put this question out to the locals during their public consultation. The proposition included larger cars, such as Range Rovers or certain BMWs, could be faced with a larger parking bill. The reason for this includes the fact that these vehicles take up more space and cause more general wear and tear on the road.
While this is not confirmed nor passed, some local councillors think it could be a step in the right direction to potentially encourage drivers to use public transport or favour more environmental cars. But drivers certainly aren’t taking it lying down.
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“We’re consulting on the principle of whether it’s right… if you’re driving a larger or more polluting vehicle, to pay a bit more,” council leader Huw Thomas revealed to the BBC this week. “These are vehicles that take up more space, they cause more damage to our roads, and if they happen to hit a pedestrian they’re likely to cause more serious injuries,” he said.
Cardiff is not the first area to consider the question Bristol, Oxford and North London have also posed the question. In fact, a YouGov poll last year said 39% of adults thought there should be higher parking fees for bigger and heavier cars. However, 53% thought all parking fees should be equal.
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Drivers took to social media to share their opinions on the proposed fee – and opinions were divided. “Yes, of course [you should pay more for a bigger car],” wrote one user on X. “You regularly see vehicles that don’t fit in spaces. You pay for parking because it’s a limited resource. Pay more if you use more.”
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Another added: “Yes because they take up too much space too big.” A third noted: “Love it. Fed up with being nearly forced off the road by these unnecessarily big and wide road hogs.”
However, others think the charge is a bad thing. One user expressed: “Absolutely ridiculous, unless they park without consideration of others why should they pay more, they pay more in everything else as it is, shouldn’t include the same spot of land a smaller vehicle would use.” Another agreed: “No, not at all. Those of us with large families need big cars. Parking spaces should be large enough to fit the cars parking in them. Some spaces are ridiculously small.”
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