Cardiff may become UK's first city to impose SUV parking premium

If changes to parking permissions are approved, motorists who drive sports utility vehicles (SUVs) or other large vehicles could be fined more to park in Cardiff. The city center will be divided into three new zones with resident permits in the city center scrapped and students are entitled to fewer permits. Cardiff is believed to be the first city in the United Kingdom to submit larger car and SUVs to a Cabinet vote, according to the advocacy group Clean Cities. Residents, commuters, and visitors are affected by the 10-year initiative, but new licenses for carers and NHS staff will be released. On Thursday, a council will make a decision, but the cost of permits will be determined at a later date.

According to the council, a surcharge would be levied on motorists with "large and heavy polluting cars. A license for drivers with more than 2,400 kilograms - SUVs – will cost more, while those with cars weighing more than 3,500 pounds will not be eligible. The initiative is designed to reduce traffic and encouraging people to walk, cycle, or use public transport when traveling in and around the city. The initiative is also expected to minimize air pollution, according to the researchers. To convince them to convert to less polluting cars, diesel car drivers would have to pay a surcharge. When the holder moves, resident permits in the city center will be withdrawn and current licenses will be phased out.

But student Beca Hughes, 19, said:

I think a lot of people are dependent on licenses.

You'll notice a lot more people parking on double-yellow lines, so finding a parking space is a challenge. Students can be vulnerable in the dark, she said.

They may not be guaranteed that they will be safe if they can't park right outside their house,

she said.

Joe Liston, 19, a sports coach and undergraduate, is not really a fan of visitor permit quotas being reduced for students. I think it's a bit unfair, he said,

I believe I need my car for a career, I work in education as well as being a student.

I suspect one day in Caerphilly could be in Newport. How can you expect me to do it without a car? says the author.

You can't find a train or I can's really afford to pay for a taxi,

says the author. There are so many other people who do the same as me.

'Double-whammy' in car tax and parking charges

I think they should have the infrastructure in place,

the managing director of KEW's planning firm Kathryn Williams said. People may not like the double whammy of being charged more for their SUV when they already pay more in car insurance, according to her.

Is it going to be a deterrent? People will have to be extremely cautious when they first arrived in the city,

she said.

I think there'll be questions from retailers and people with businesses in the city center.

I don't think the consultation has been that fruitful, as someone who works in the industry, we haven't been notified. Public transport must be more efficient, Ms Williams said.

I think we really need to look at improving things like our bus services,

she said, although the trains are a little bit longer and bit more frequent.

I would use the train a bit later if they did not run a little later.

There were safety issues with cycling in some of the city's neighborhoods, according to her. However, Thomas Chu, a resident of the city center, believes that parking spaces should be reduced. He used to pay £120-a-month for a parking space for his apartment.

It's not appropriate for so many cars around here,

he said, adding that it would minimize noise as well.

New carer permits

New permit types will be introduced under the new parking policy, according to Cardiff council, the new initiative would

improve the quality of life for residents and visitors

and "prioritises blue badge holders. Motorcyclists will now need a license to park in resident bays. If the changes are accepted on Thursday, there will be another consultation before they are implemented.