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Gas-guzzlers to be charged up to £200 to park
Referendum is narrowly passed
ISLINGTON’S residents have narrowly voted in favour of charging large gas-guzzler vehicles up to £200 to park in the borough.
Lib Dem leader Cllr James Kempton called the result “a great day for democracy”.
Ballot papers were sent to 127,544 households with 36,792 being sent back, a turnout of 28.8 per cent, for the first referendum of its kind in the country.
The council says 20,266 (56.1 per cent) voted ‘yes’ and 15,883 (43.9 per cent) voted ‘no’.
The referendum cost £90,000 but the narrowness of the vote was described as “perfect vindication” for holding it.
Of the votes, 27,382 were received by post, 5,202 through the internet, and 2,192 by text message and 2,016 by phone.
There were 643 spoiled ballot papers.
Cllr Kempton announced the results at Tuesday night’s full council meeting, where he said: “The people of Islington have spoken and have told us they are in favour of this charge.”
He added that he “can’t resist gloating” at opposition Labour councillors who berated the £90,000 cost of staging the referendum.
The council’s executive, its decision-making body, will formally approve the results next Thursday.
Council sources say the new sliding charges could be implemented by the end of this year.
But some critics have argued that it is merely a money-making exercise with thousands of pounds extra set to pour into Town Hall coffers each year.
And the row over whether the charge will be rolled out to Islington’s estates rumbles on.
Cllr Kempton promised to discuss proposals for implementing the new sliding charge on the borough’s estates with Homes for Islington, which runs the borough’s housing stock.
The opposition Labour party claims estate drivers, even those with the most eco-friendly vehicles, will have to pay up to six times more than those living in street properties under the scheme.
Councillor James Murray, Labour’s environment spokesman, told the council chamber the Lib Dems had made no firm promises on having an equal system for all.
He said: “All we see are limp promises in all of the literature. There are no guarantees here – we ask for immediate action. We need action on this and an equal and fair system.”
Other steps to reduce pollution in the borough pledged by the Liberal Democrats include a £3 million climate-change fund. |
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