This Labor Council DOUBLE the cost of EV parking permits, but lowers the price of high-emitting permits…
- Dover District residents will see EV permit costs rise by 162% from January 13
A Kent council will charge electric vehicle owners more than double their previous parking permit fees from next week.
Labour-run Dover District Council made the controversial decision to increase EV permits, while at the same time reducing the cost of parking permits for petrol cars.
The move has been labeled as ‘bizarre’ by green campaigners and councillors.
But the council has backed its decision, saying cheap incentives for EV parking permits have failed to increase EV adoption in the area.
The shock change follows Dover District Council’s vote to introduce a flat rate charge for on-street permits from January 13.
The flat rate permit cost is £105 and covers most zones.
Labor-led Dover District Council has decided to increase EV permits while cutting the cost of petrol car permits, meaning EV owners will have to pay 162% more this year
An owner of an electric car such as a Tesla Model Y or a Nissan Leaf will pay 162 per cent more on January 13, with the annual permit fee rising from £40 to £105.
Owners of petrol and diesel cars, on the other hand, will see their permit costs drop from £120 to £105.
In 2021, DCC launched its pilot of emissions-based parking permits, but the incentive-based initiative failed to see much success in electric vehicles.
An official report from the council said it hoped the trial would ‘encourage the use of low-emission vehicles as part of the Climate Change Agenda’, but with only twenty permits issued for fully electric cars and fourteen for hybrid cars, ‘It therefore appears that the differentiated tax has not had a significant influence on decision-making about the purchase of vehicles.’
The council document states: ‘Following the trial period for emissions-based permits, it is now accepted that differentiated charges for residence permit holders alone are insufficient to influence the public’s decision-making on vehicle purchases.’
However, Green councilors have opposed the measure, calling it ‘stupid’ and ‘strange’.
EV owners will see their annual permit fees rise from £40 to £105. Petrol and diesel car owners, on the other hand, will see their permit fees fall from £120 to £105
The decision follows a trial period (since 2021) in which the ownership of electric vehicles was encouraged through low permit costs. The council said the trial failed to announce results or increase uptake
Cllr Nick Shread, a Green member of Dover City Council, told the story KentOnline: ‘It’s quite strange and shows a lack of foresight.
‘But it is in line with government changes whereby electric vehicles are no longer exempt from tax, which we do not agree with.’
Another councilor Mike Eddy, Green Party member for Deal and Walmer councils, commented: “It’s a bizarre decision and one that will be absolute peanuts for the council.
“If you are trying to encourage people to use cars that pollute the least, then increasing levies is nonsense.”
People also took to social media to express their anger with one user posting: ‘Another tax on the people who can probably least afford it. Street parking tax is literally a robbery.’
Changes to Dover District parking permits will mean 185 residents will have to pay the higher amount for EV permits, and 896 fuel car drivers will pay less
The municipality’s changes will lead to higher costs for 185 residents, while 896 residents will pay less and for 980 the inflation-adjusted rates will remain the same.
Second permit holders will also face changes, with the current tiered system being replaced by a new flat rate of £130.
Currently the price ranges from £65 to £145 for a second on-street parking permit per household.
The council has confirmed that there will be no further increase in parking permit costs in the year 2025/26.
