To welcome Cardiff Council's proposed higher parking charges for larger/heavier cars

So ignorant. Just buy a bigger car???? Many people, including me cannot possibly afford anything like that. I have a small cheap car because it's what I can afford. Cheaper to insure, run, buy. Fuck off with your ridiculous, entitled statements. Of course bloody big cars should pay more. Good on Cardiff.

Yes some cars are far too big today.

I'm afraid I don't know. They are just not Mini.

Aren’t they now classed as a supermini even though there still called Mini? Lime Jukes.

Cardiff City Council are legends for this! Nobody needs an SUV in a big city!

And if you live outside, you can get the train into the centre, the public transport links are great. Or pay for the extra space your car takes up in the car park.

The trend towards larger and larger cars has to stop. UK roads cannot cope. It's not just the weight, it's the space they take up. You can't see round them either which makes the roads less safe.

You don't need an SUV necessarily as a blue badge holder either - people have different needs. I'd expect any blue badge holder to either get free parking or more time if they have to pay.

So charge EVs a premium.

Interesting one.

It’s being generally reported as an EV issue, but if you read through the coverage, then it does become clear that’s it’s an SUV / larger car issue. Smaller electric vehicles won’t be affected, and some larger petrol / diesel SUVs are heavy enough to cause problems.

The Institution of Structural Engineers has issued guidance on strengthening car parks due to this - they’ve also said that they expect some car parks just to introduce a weight limit as that would be an easier and cheaper solution.

It’s quite an issue to be hiding in plain sight when I think of how many car parks local to me could potentially be affected. People complain enough at Christmas when the car parks get full - having some taken out of use because SUVs are too heavy for them would really cause an upset.

... and I was responding to previous poster who used safety to justify her SUV. You might want to let @Jamesblonde2 know they don't need their SUV, as I've already suggested.

It's clear from the evidence that an SUV is more of a threat to others e.g.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/11/ever-rising-height-car-bonnets-suv-threat-to-children-report

I'm sure I also read they were more dangerous for SUV occupants as as they are more likely to roll over, but that's a risk SUV drivers accept for themselves.

To all the people suggesting older cars pollute more or if they are concerned about safety should buy a bigger, newer car has it ever occurred to you that an SUV is much more expensive? That's why its a status symbol in some circles and a big reason people buy them. So if you can afford an SUV presumably you can afford to pay more for a parking space. I own neither, but I'd rather be hit by a small car than an SUV!

It's a ridiculous policy.

And it isn't about the environment or your safety. It's a stelath tax.

If it really was an environmental issue, they would just ban large vehicles, not tax them. They will set the levy at a rate that won't stop people buying a large SUV, but just high enough that paying it will be less hassle than changing your car. An easy tax grab.

It’s a reasonable idea and I suspect it wlll be copied. If only to address the budgets for filing potholes!

Oh please!

There are 35 million drivers in the UK and less that one percent are involved any accidents. The "smaller car you hit" is nonsense. If the driver of a "small car" was really worried about such an event, they could just buy a bigger car themselves. They don't, because it's a non issue.

But all are more polluting than modern smaller vehicles, which is surely a better comparison? And then a modern E-SUV is far less polluting than a modern petrol or diesel SUV. Diesels being the worst by far regardless of age.

No, i didn't stop reading, I chose the husband because

1. He is tallest. If he fits, the others will fit.
2. The kids weren't 6+ feet 10 years ago
3. Husband has likely been exposed to more vehicle types.

But please, don't let that stop you from diving right in with your sass.

You're so edgy calling me a moron and saying the vest tack is to ignore us as you simultaneously engage with someone you don't think is worth your time. 👏

I agree we need cheaper and better public transport.

id worry about those who genuinely need a larger vehicle (what if you have one due to disability but the disabled person isn't always with you?)

likewise if you have 3/4+ kids you can't help needing a bigger car. Or is it ok to essentially impose a 'bigger family tax'?

Haha, they are pretty big. I'm a sucker for large cars, but what they've done to Mini is a travesty.

The whole thing is utterly ridiculous, so it’s not an eye roll directed at you but a general irritation with the weekly threads trying to police what cars people drive by throwing insults at them, when everything we do (including how many kids we bring into the world and what we eat) has a huge impact on everyone and the planet.

I just want to remind people with SUVs that it’s no one’s business except theirs what they drive, I’ve stayed longer than I intended anyway.

Yet when I was in Ullapool it was the cars getting ticketed - for parking in the campervan spaces /

not that I can’t see there is a problem with the NC500

and you should treat sensibly parked vans differently from those spreading over what could be 4 or more spaces in an unmarked parking area -with tables and chairs out . Nightmare

I live in the Highlands and think this idea would be so good here - I’m sick of all the tourist campervans and motorhomes taking up twice as much space in the car parks!

There is no need for a rude eye roll

Yes it does, which is why the energy rating is on there. 🙄

It must also include large heavy cars that aren't SUVs as it seem to be on a weight basis

Your choice of washing machine ir fridge doesn't affect others, your choice of car does

There is a finite amount of 'on street' parking available.

In order to ensure that as many people as possible are able to park priority is being given to smaller vehicles and large and/or 'commercial' vehicles - vans, small lorries etc will not be given permits.

You can drive what you want its just that you will need to find your own parking for it 'off street'

What is it about that thats so awful?

Did you stop reading after the first few words because it’s not just the husband is it?

Lots of people need SUVs for all sorts of reasons and most of them drive and park them absolutely fine because it’s not actually that hard. The bottom line though is that no one needs to justify their choice of car to anyone, anymore than anyone needs to justify their choice of washing machine or fridge because it’s none of their business.

Engaging with the morons who feel that they can police other people’s consumer choices just encourages them so they’re best ignored.