Drivers with the most polluting cars face paying more to park them in Edinburgh under new permit proposals.
Owners of "gas-guzzlers" would see the cost of their permit rise by £160 in the city centre and by £80 in peripheral zones.
Edinburgh City Council currently charges a flat rate of £160 for a centre permit and £80 for other zones.
Under the shake-up the less polluting cars would see charges fall to £30 in the centre and £15 in outer zones.
The council is believed to be the first local authority in Scotland to propose greener parking charges in a bid to reduce the environmental impact of vehicle emissions.
Pay less
A report, which outlines a proposed new banding system for residents' permits, will be considered by the council's transport, infrastructure and environment committee next Tuesday.
The new charging structure would mean two thirds of current permit holders would pay less for their permit.
Permit holders with the most polluting vehicles or those with a second permit would pay more.
The report also recommends that a 25% surcharge is placed on the second permit holder in each household.
"I pay more already through my annual car tax, which is a charge for the higher emissions expelled from my car"
Robert Aldridge, Edinburgh City Council's environment leader, said: "There is a national acceptance that more needs to be done to influence the vehicle choices that people make.
"If this is to happen then local authorities need to play their part and take action to bring about local change.
"It is clear to me that, with ongoing CO2 monitoring identifying several key locations in the city where CO2 levels are causing concern, it is our responsibility to take measures designed to make city centre residents consider the impact that their vehicle choice has on our city."
Edinburgh City Council is committed to lowering CO2 emissions in hotspots across the city by 2010.
Although the new plans would mean it losing £50,000 per annum, it says it would be cheaper than European Union fines for not reaching CO2 emission targets.
Higher emissions
James O'Brien, 28, from Edinburgh, owns a Mazda RX8 - which falls into the highest band for CO2 emissions.
He said he was angry about the plans.
"What is next when it comes to parking in Edinburgh? Are we going to have to punch into parking ticket machines what type of car we have and pay twice what a smaller car pays?" he asked.
"I pay more already through my annual car tax, which is a charge for the higher emissions expelled from my car.
"While my car is parked it is not moving and therefore not producing any fumes, so I don't see why I would have to pay twice for having a less fuel efficient car.
"Also, as Jeremy Clarkson says on Top Gear, a Toyota Prius when driven like a racing car is very inefficient where as a BMW if driven correctly can be fuel efficient. It depends on how cars are driven, as well as the model."
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