Industry News
School run could result in charges
Posted on 24th April 2008
Parents who drive their children to school could now face charges.
Local authorities may adopt the controversial scheme in a bid to lower unnecessary carbon emissions.
Richmond council in Surrey has announced it will be the first to pilot the new initiative, which forces parents, particularly those with large cars such as people carriers, to pay £75 for a special parking permit. Parents with smaller cars will pay less.
As well as helping the environment the scheme is hoped to encourage exercise and cut down on irresponsible driving and poor parking.
A spokesman for Richmond council said: "We want to drive down carbon dioxide emissions in the borough and become the most sustainable council in the country."
However, a spokeswoman for the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations criticised the scheme, telling the BBC: "These days it is not unusual for both parents to work. A lot of the time their offices are far away and they need to get their kids to school quickly."