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Original poster

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

131 replies

LlynTegid · 16/10/2025 12:01

Cardiff council are planning to have higher parking charges for larger/heavier vehicles (so including most SUVs). I welcome this, wish it was the case everywhere, though a second best option to the separate driving test I would prefer.

AIBU to welcome this?

OP posts:
JohnofWessex · 17/10/2025 07:59

Looks like you wont be able to get a permit for a lot of 'light commercials' - vans etc

While there will be issues for people who are 'on call' all I can say is 'about time'

LakieLady · 16/10/2025 20:29

YorkshireGoldDrinker · 16/10/2025 13:06

To be fair, you can say exactly the same thing about the people. But there's no fat jab for cars, is there? Even the Classic Mini was genuinely Mini. Now they're huge, because they're not Mini anymore. I think the brand is German now.

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Mr L reckoned that you could park a Mk1 mini in the back of the current Clubman model.

They're fucking huge compared to the Mk2 Mini I had in the 70s.

FrippEnos · 16/10/2025 20:23

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/10/2025 12:13

I’d rather people with older, more polluting cars paid more.
Is the council providing larger spaces accordingly?

Its much more polluting to build EV cars.

Maybe there should be an environmental tax on that.

KimberleyClark · 16/10/2025 19:39

Needlenardlenoo · 16/10/2025 17:52

It's in a poor location

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It’s a short walk away from the main shopping area.

missmollygreen · 16/10/2025 19:38

MrsSkylerWhite · 16/10/2025 12:13

I’d rather people with older, more polluting cars paid more.
Is the council providing larger spaces accordingly?

Older cars are far better for the environment than building a whole new car.

Bobbingtons · 16/10/2025 19:37

FixTheBone · 16/10/2025 18:11

Go on then...

Name me an EV that is 2x the weight of its petrol equivalent....

The closest I've found so far is a fiat 500 Vs the 500e 900kg Vs 1350kg... So 50% heavier. The bigger the car, generally the smaller the difference.... The BMW iX is almost the exact same weight as the BMW X5 m50

Edited
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Peugeot 208 is approximately 90% heavier and the average is at least 30 percent heavier. The problem at the moment is the big push for longer ranges which is increasing the weight. Hopefully we will see future. Advances in battery tech though. I set this as someone who is totally pro electric as well, it's just something to consider with the additional fact that people want bigger and bigger cars, it's quite shocking when you see a salon or hatchback from 30 + years ago compared to a modern equivalent ignoring the fact that large SUVs have become the muddy have cat food so many people.most

JohnofWessex · 16/10/2025 19:32

If I book a ferry the cost is partly based on size so why not apply the same to parking?

JohnofWessex · 16/10/2025 19:24

Jamesblonde2 · 16/10/2025 13:21

I’ve no issue paying more for a bigger car, I do anyway with petrol costs etc. My priority is safety of myself and my family if some idiot lorry/bus crashes into me we have a higher chance of survival and reduced injuries. My larger car affords us that. I’d never dream of driving a small car on motorways.

Edited

The death rate amongst SUV occupants in collisions is higher that normal sized vehicles as they are unstable and more prone to roll over

Doobydoobydoooooooo · 16/10/2025 19:10

I can't believe someone has cited America as something to work towards. You can't walk anywhere in lots of places, there are no pavements. We need less cars not more. My friends have to drive their kids half ample to school then queue 20 mins to drop them off, that's just insane!

RealOliveTraybake · 16/10/2025 18:15

anniegun · 16/10/2025 16:26

It weighs 50% more than the original

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The original? That's a 50 year old car, of course it does.

A 20 year old fiesta weighs only 50kg more than a final model year 2023 fiesta.

FixTheBone · 16/10/2025 18:11

Bobbingtons · 16/10/2025 17:29

I can see this from a council point of view and it's all to do with cost. Road damage is directly linked to the weight of a vehicle. Standard cars do almost road damage, HGVs on the other hand do hundreds times more damage. With bigger cars and electric cars often bring 2+ times the weight of a standard mid to small combustion powered car they will see increased council costs.
The one thing no one seems to answer is the issue with multi stories. With the government push to electric cars, most multistorey car parks will start collapsing under the additional weight and that's going to end up costing billions to retrofit and reinforce the carparks. They have already had to do one in my local area!

Go on then...

Name me an EV that is 2x the weight of its petrol equivalent....

The closest I've found so far is a fiat 500 Vs the 500e 900kg Vs 1350kg... So 50% heavier. The bigger the car, generally the smaller the difference.... The BMW iX is almost the exact same weight as the BMW X5 m50

Bagsintheboot · 16/10/2025 18:04

Needlenardlenoo · 16/10/2025 17:52

It's in a poor location

Show quote history

Cardiff has at least six train stations which are central. Plus all the others further out.

Redpeach · 16/10/2025 17:54

Needlenardlenoo · 16/10/2025 17:52

It's in a poor location

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All of them?

Needlenardlenoo · 16/10/2025 17:52

Redpeach · 16/10/2025 17:44

Doesn't cardiff have a train station?

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It's in a poor location

SprayWhiteDung · 16/10/2025 17:50

Our county council is actually urging people to buy big 4x4s, instead of small compact ones.

They haven't actually published this policy, but it's clear as day from their complete lack of interest in repairing any of the horrendous huge potholes - and then by adding ridiculously high speed bumps right next to them that scrape the exhaust of our 25yo little car, no matter how slowly you go over them.

It's not such a bargain buying small cars that are cheaper (or more likely a bit less expensive) to park, if you just more than lose it all again in extra repair costs.

Benvenuto · 16/10/2025 17:48

Bobbingtons · 16/10/2025 17:29

I can see this from a council point of view and it's all to do with cost. Road damage is directly linked to the weight of a vehicle. Standard cars do almost road damage, HGVs on the other hand do hundreds times more damage. With bigger cars and electric cars often bring 2+ times the weight of a standard mid to small combustion powered car they will see increased council costs.
The one thing no one seems to answer is the issue with multi stories. With the government push to electric cars, most multistorey car parks will start collapsing under the additional weight and that's going to end up costing billions to retrofit and reinforce the carparks. They have already had to do one in my local area!

That’s interesting about the refit. I’ve known about the car park issue for a while, but it’s never seen to be discussed locally even though we do have a couple of 50 year old car parks in the area that could potentially be affected.

Redpeach · 16/10/2025 17:44

OhDear111 · 16/10/2025 13:13

Won’t be going to Cardiff in a hurry then! Millions of families have these vehicles. Let’s make Cardiff a no go area for the better off. What a disastrous idea.

Doesn't cardiff have a train station?

Redpeach · 16/10/2025 17:41

princesspadam · 16/10/2025 12:45

I would prefer them to sort out the appalling roads in cardiff which have been changed to large cycle lanes making the city centre and close surrounding areas gridlocked for the majority of the time
there have been people trapped in car parks in excess of 4 hrs due to this joy from the labour government

Gridlock is caused by traffic which is made of cars

Pippalongsticking · 16/10/2025 17:39

I support this, not sure about electric cars though. My DH is also very tall and fits nicely in a golf and always has so do think that’s a good argument.

Needlenardlenoo · 16/10/2025 17:36

BaconCheeses · 16/10/2025 14:46

I'll flip that question.

You drive a big car and drive to a car park built 20 years ago. Where do you park it? Between two other big cars or next to a smaller vehicle? The smaller vehicle, because you obviously recognise that you will benefit from being able to open your car door into a greater space.

But do you think a small car ever looks to park between two large vehicles?

No, because often it means parking and then pulling forward so DH can get out and let the kids out before I reverse back into the space, or pulling out before I can get the kids in, which (a) is inconvenient and (b) an unnecessary risk that we wouldn't be exposed to if parked next to another smaller car. Its a nightmare if I'm alone and sandwiched in with the kids and I'm sick of it.

Pay more for a bigger space.

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I belonged to a gym for a while. Let's call it David Lloyd, as that was its name.

When I returned to the car park after exercising, I regularly used to lose my 2015 VW Polo between two metal behemoths!

Bagsintheboot · 16/10/2025 17:32

ForPlumReader · 16/10/2025 17:12

Whereas the safety of the driver and family of the smaller car you hit is of no interest. Perhaps SUV drivers should sit a CPC test the way bus and lorry drivers have to.

Show quote history

Just going to leave this from the Onion here.

To welcome Cardiff Council's proposed higher parking charges for larger/heavier cars
Bobbingtons · 16/10/2025 17:29

I can see this from a council point of view and it's all to do with cost. Road damage is directly linked to the weight of a vehicle. Standard cars do almost road damage, HGVs on the other hand do hundreds times more damage. With bigger cars and electric cars often bring 2+ times the weight of a standard mid to small combustion powered car they will see increased council costs.
The one thing no one seems to answer is the issue with multi stories. With the government push to electric cars, most multistorey car parks will start collapsing under the additional weight and that's going to end up costing billions to retrofit and reinforce the carparks. They have already had to do one in my local area!

ForPlumReader · 16/10/2025 17:12

Jamesblonde2 · 16/10/2025 13:21

I’ve no issue paying more for a bigger car, I do anyway with petrol costs etc. My priority is safety of myself and my family if some idiot lorry/bus crashes into me we have a higher chance of survival and reduced injuries. My larger car affords us that. I’d never dream of driving a small car on motorways.

Edited

Whereas the safety of the driver and family of the smaller car you hit is of no interest. Perhaps SUV drivers should sit a CPC test the way bus and lorry drivers have to.

BaconCheeses · 16/10/2025 16:54

hmnj · 16/10/2025 15:49

Unfair IMO. Tall tax.

6 foot 7 husband and teen son
6 foot 2 teen daughter
me 6 ft

Yes, our family car is an suv (skoda). What else are we all going to fit in when I'm driving (I'm the main driver)?

Well what did your husband fit into 10 years ago?

anniegun · 16/10/2025 16:30

hmnj · 16/10/2025 15:49

Unfair IMO. Tall tax.

6 foot 7 husband and teen son
6 foot 2 teen daughter
me 6 ft

Yes, our family car is an suv (skoda). What else are we all going to fit in when I'm driving (I'm the main driver)?

Citroen Berlingo

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