A DRIVER has accused city leaders of failing to encourage eco-friendly cars. Dave Walsh drives a Honda Insight hybrid car which runs on both petrol and battery power. He wants a graded parking system introduced in which drivers of environmentally friendly vehicles would pay less.
His Honda is cheaper than a diesel and the Government gives £1,000 to everyone who buys one. It drastically cuts emissions. In London, sales are rising rapidly as drivers of the Insight do not have to pay the congestion charge. But so far only a handful of people in Brighton and Hove have a hybrid or IMA (Integral Motor Assistance) car.
Mr. Walsh, 42, of Fourth Avenue, Hove, said: "I only pay £50 road tax but I still have to pay £80 for my parking permit, which is 150 per cent of the reduced road fund. "I feel a lot better that I am driving a more ecological car but it annoys me "I am making people's quality of life better and getting no encouragement." Mr. Walsh said a grading system should be introduced to make parking che