Dover District Council is set to more than double the cost of parking permits for electric vehicle owners next week, while simultaneously reducing fees for petrol and diesel cars.
The Labour-run council’s controversial decision will see EV owners paying £105 for their annual on-street parking permits from January 13, up from the current £40 fee.
Meanwhile, drivers of conventional petrol and diesel vehicles will benefit from a reduction in their permit costs, which will fall from £120 to £105.
The new flat rate charge of £105 will cover most parking zones across the Dover district in Kent.
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The council’s decision to hike costs for electric vehicles has been described as ‘bizarre’
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For owners of electric vehicles, this represents a dramatic 162 per cent increase in their annual permit costs.
The council’s decision follows a review of its emissions-tiered parking permit trial, which was launched in 2021.
The changes will also affect second permit holders, with the current variable pricing system being replaced by a new flat rate of £130, compared to the previous range of £65 to £145.
The council defended its decision, stating that cheap EV parking permit incentives had failed to boost electric car adoption in the area.
Since 2021, only 20 permits for fully electric cars and 14 for hybrid vehicles have been issued under the trial scheme.
Council documents stated: “Following the trial period for emissions-based permits it is now considered that differential charging for resident permit holders alone is insufficient to influence the public’s decision-making on vehicle purchasing.”
Green councillors have strongly criticised the council’s decision. Councillor Nick Shread, a Green member for Dover Town Council, told Kent Online: “It is rather strange and shows a lack of foresight.”
Councillor Mike Eddy, representing Deal and Walmer Town Councils, was more forceful in his criticism, saying: “It’s a bizarre decision and one which will make absolute peanuts for the council.
“If you’re trying to encourage people to use cars which pollute the least, then increasing the charges is silly.”
According to council figures, 185 residents will face higher charges under the new system, while 896 permit holders will see their costs reduced.
A further 980 residents will experience inflation-adjusted fees that remain effectively the same.
The council has confirmed there will be no further increases in parking permit costs for the 2025/26 financial year.
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The new council parking costs will be rolled out later this month
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A Dover District Council spokesperson said: “Parking provision throughout the Dover district is regularly under review and the needs of the local economy and residents are always taken into consideration.
“The decision to remove the emissions-based charging will ensure that all vehicles parking within each zone will be paying the same amount, creating a fairer pricing structure for residents requiring parking spaces near their homes.”
