Parents charged for school run

A scheme which charges parents who drive their children to school could be rolled out across the UK.

Richmond council in south-west London is proposing that parents pay up to £75 a year for a parking permit, which would allow them to use designated bays outside schools.

The authority said it was aiming to cut congestion, reduce emissions and encourage children to walk to school. A group of 13 primary and infant schools in the borough will be involved first, with parents allowed to park for 15 minutes. If the Liberal Democrat controlled council passes the plans at a cabinet meeting, the scheme could begin in September.

The Local Government Association said it would follow how the idea worked in practice "with interest".

The council has already caused controversy with a CO2-related residents parking charge in 2006. It said the new scheme would be based on the same sliding scale, with gas-guzzling 4x4s hit with a £75 charge but owners of greener cars parking for free.

President of the Automobile Association, Edmund King, said it was a "ridiculous and silly scheme" which had not been thought out properly. "Parking and congestion has nothing to do with the size of the vehicle or vehicle emissions, which are totally separate things."

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