Parking permits could be made cheaper for low emission vehicles

Owners of low emission vehicles such as electric cars are set to receive a discount on their residential parking permits

Residents living in controlled parking zones have to buy permits in order to parking outside their homes.

There are currently CPZs in operation in Bognor Regis, Billingshurst, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Horsham and Worthing.

West Sussex County Council is currently consulting on a number of changes including increasing the cost of six-month permits as they increase administration costs compared to yearly ones.

In the future parking permits will be allowed to be issued electronically, utilising similar technology to that used when paper tax disks were replaced.

According to the county council: “Moving to such a system will not be done immediately but it is expected to be gradually introduced throughout West Sussex in the next few years.”

The third change would see a discount introduced for permits sold to both residents and non-residents with low emission vehicles.

The proposal is for a 25 per cent reduction, which would apply to a vehicle with CO2 emissions of less than 50g/km and can travel at least 112km (70 miles) without any emissions at all.

The consultation closes on Thursday April 9.

To comment visit www.westsussex.gov.uk/roads-and-travel/traffic-regulation-orders