Diesel parking surcharge in Westminster to tackle air pollution

By Andrew Baxter

7 August 2019

Fleets operating in London with pre-Euro 6 diesel cars will be subject to a new diesel surcharge from this week to help take on the challenge of low air quality.

Following a successful trial of a 50% surcharge for on-street parking in part of the borough, pre-Euro 6 diesel cars (typically those registered before 2015) parked in Westminster will be subject to the surcharge from this week to “help take on the challenge of low air quality”.

Under the scheme, an additional surcharge ranging from 85p to £2.45 per hour on top of parking fees will apply depending on where in Westminster diesel fleet vehicles are parked, with more central locations attracting a higher premium.

Westminster City Council expects that journeys into central London by older and polluting diesel vehicles could be cut by more than a quarter of a million.

Cllr Tim Mitchell, Westminster City Council’s Cabinet Member for environment and city management, said: “We are standing up and taking action to improve air quality in Westminster, the evidence proves that the diesel parking surcharge can make a difference.

“Our residents were clear that they want us to roll out the 50 per cent surcharge out across the city. Air quality is one of their top concerns, and so this move is an important and logical next step in our commitment to improving the air we breathe.”

Over the last two years the Council has trialled the diesel parking surcharge in parking zone F, largely comprising Marylebone and Fitzrovia. According to the Council, the scheme has reduced the amount of older diesel vehicles parking in the Marylebone Low Emission Neighbourhood by 16%, “without any obvious displacement to nearby parking zones”.

Westminster was the first London borough to introduce a surcharge where polluting vehicles paid an extra 50% on their hourly parking rates. Income from the surcharge will contribute to schemes to improve air quality in the city.

In 2018 the Council ran a public consultation on how to extend this policy city-wide. More than 1,300 responded “and the message from residents in particular was clear in backing the roll out the diesel surcharge across the city”.