England loves to throw up an unusual motoring story. Whether it is ridiculous speeding offenses or just a strange occurrence, the country has plenty to talk about. Now, a town in the Cotswolds region is in the headlines after announcing possible changes to its car park charges specifically for SUVs.
Cheltenham, one of Britain’s most well-known towns, is seriously considering a major change to its parking charges. This, however, wouldn’t be an overall increase, but an increase in parking tickets for those who are parking an SUV in council-run car parks.
The BBC reported that the town’s borough council has promised to look at whether SUVs should pay extra due to concerns over the amount of space they take up. The extra weight of SUVs could potentially be causing road damage, which is another factor that is being considered regarding raising ticket prices.
A vehicle association has hit back, while some feel that with so many SUVs on English roads, something has to be done about them. SUVs can take a lot of space and make it harder for those in smaller cars to be able to park. The possibility of an SUV-only parking ticket increase is certainly an interesting one.
Why Cheltenham Might Raise SUV Parking Charges
Cheltenham’s borough council has promised to take a deeper look at SUVs and the potential damage that they can cause. The town has said that concerns were raised that the amount of space they take up has been making it tricky for other road users to park their own cars.
Then there is the weight factor. As SUVs are so heavy, they place extra stress on the road and its surface. This can eventually lead to wear in the tarmac and ultimately, potholes. Cheltenham’s borough council is actively looking at whether the large vehicles have been causing damage to road surfaces. A motion was recently put forward by Green Party group leader Jan Foster, who said the move would help to discourage drivers from buying SUVs.
However, it is interesting to note that there has been some pushback. The Alliance of British Drivers said “it is not the responsibility of the council to make moral judgements” on what cars people buy, and added it should “mind its own business.” However, there is no denying that SUVs have become more widespread in England. And Cheltenham is far from the only town in the world to have increased parking charges for those driving SUVs.
Other Towns Have Increased SUV Parking Charges
Cardiff in Wales has introduced higher parking charges for SUVs, as has Paris, France. The city of Bath in England has also held a consultation on whether drivers of heavier cars, such as SUVs, should pay more to park. Foster said that the larger vehicles have caused countless problems, under a term known as “carspreading.”
This is related to the size and weight of the cars, the increased risk they pose to other road users, the damage they can cause to road infrastructure, and how they take up so much room. Air pollution is another factor as well. This is in stark contrast to the view of the Alliance of British Drivers, which has claimed the move by the council is purely “virtue signalling.”