Fury over ‘never-ending’ plans to ‘get money out of motorists’ as London councils consider hiking parking fines by up to 25%
- The plans reference a recent price hike, which increased fines from £130 to £160
- London motorists are already paying a £15 congestion charge and Ulez costs
Fury has erupted over plans to hike parking fines in London by up to 25 per cent.
London Councils – which represents authorities and controls fine limits – is consulting on the changes, which could raise parking fines by a quarter.
No exact figures for the fines have yet been confirmed but the consultations reportedly reference a recent 23 per cent hike brought in by Transport for London (TfL), which increased fines from £130 to £160.
In addition, fines could be raised for driving in bus lanes or box junctions – while other parking fees, such as clamping and vehicle removals, are also set to be affected.
The quarter rise in parking fines would add to an already increasingly expensive driving experience in London – with a £15-a-day congestion charge and expansion of the low emissions zone already battering vehicle owners.
Fury has erupted over plans to hike parking fines in London by up to 25 per cent (file image)
No exact figures for the fines have yet been confirmed but the plans reportedly reference a recent 23 per cent hike (file image)
Motoring groups have condemned the ‘never-ending’ schemes to ‘get money out of motorists’.
Luke Bosdet from the AA told The Telegraph: ‘There seems to be a never-ending trail of London councils and TfL finding means to get money out of motorists, whether it’s parking permits, parking charges or other driving charges.’
READ MORE: How ‘highway robber’ Sadiq Khan is monetising EVERY road in London in his war on drivers
Meanwhile Simon Williams, head of policy for the RAC, added: ‘We can see no justification whatsoever for putting up these fines, especially in a cost of living crisis.’
The expansion of Ulez at the end of the month under London mayor Sadiq Khan has been rife with controversy.
From August 29 the scheme will cover all London boroughs and will force drivers of non-compliant vehicles to shell out £12.50 a day.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has even blamed the policy for his party’s recent by-election loss in Uxbridge, which will now be covered.
This week it has also emerged that drivers will soon have to pay a toll to use the Blackwall Tunnel over the river Thames
Motorists may also end up paying a £3 toll to cross Hammersmith Bridge if it reopens to cars.
Penalty charge levels have not been changed since 2007, according to London Councils.
MailOnline has contacted London Councils for comment.
Last week tractor-driving anti-Ulez protesters brought traffic to a standstill around London.
Tractors, a taxi and a three-wheel car were seen spiralling around a roundabout at Orpington War Memorial, south east London on Saturday, while protesters shouted into megaphones and blew whistles.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to ‘think twice’ about Ulez expansion, while on Monday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suggested cities should look at other options for tackling air pollution.
Mr Khan has previously admitted his decision to expand the Ulez was ‘very difficult’ but insisted it would ‘see five million more Londoners being able to breathe cleaner air’.
Orpington locals Alex Hart, 65, and his wife Cheryl Hart, 61, were among protesters on the edge of London.
The pair are worried they could have to spend up to £40,000 to replace their car.
Mr Hart said: ‘I have never protested about anything until this. I have got a car which is a Volvo C30. It’s diesel because I was told by my Government that diesel was the environmentally friendly thing to do. I now have to get rid of it.
‘It’s a 2010 car but it has been regularly serviced and looked after. We go on journeys to see my children in Cornwall, we have recently been to Suffolk.
The expansion of Ulez at the end of the month under London mayor Sadiq Khan has been rife with controversy
London Mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured in June 2022) wants to expand the capital’s Ulez area
‘It’s great but now Mayor Khan is telling me to get rid of it.
‘We will be without a car soon or having to pay a tax which is totally unjust.’
Signs warning drivers of the expansion of the capital’s ultra-low emission zone (Ulez) would be an endorsement of Sadiq Khan’s plans, a council leader has said.
Hertfordshire County Council will not erect signs warning drivers they are approaching the new area, its leader Richard Roberts has said.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘(Sadiq Khan) has created a tax border and I don’t want to put signs up, the mayor’s signs, which in any way suggest that we endorse his plans.
‘His cameras and his signs are already in place and there are national signs on our major infrastructure, on motorways, our main trunk roads, there are already signs up there.
‘We may consider using our own visual boards that we have around the county at some point, but in terms of putting an infrastructure of signs up which effectively endorses the mayor’s plans, we’re not going to do that.’
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