People with cars that produce higher levels of harmful emissions will pay more under a new parking permit scheme approved by Barnet Council’s environment committee.

The move will create 13 price bands for residents’ permits based on their vehicle’s carbon dioxide emissions – up from just five bands under the current system.

The changes – approved by the environment committee on Thursday (March 14) – mean those with the most heavily polluting vehicles will pay around £67 more than they do under the current scheme.

It is hoped the new banding system will encourage people to switch to cleaner modes of transport as concerns over climate change and the health impact of poor air quality continue to grow.

On and off-street parking tariffs are also set to rise by 28 per cent to account for an increase in inflation after being frozen for several years.

The council says this will lead to a higher turnover of cars using parking spaces, which will benefit shops and keep traffic moving freely.

But Labour environment spokesman Cllr Alan Schneiderman said the plans to hike parking tariffs would have “a detrimental effect on local businesses, high streets and town centres”.

He told the committee: “In North Finchley, that will take the maximum all-day parking to over £6. In Golders Green, it will take the cost of parking for over three hours to £9. How can this be justified?”

Jamie Blake, strategic director of environment, said: “The number of on-street parking charges has not been looked at for a number of years.

“We are still relatively cheap compared to other London boroughs, and the level of charge does affect the number of bays that are occupied.

“It is a difficult subject, but I do not believe this increase will have a detrimental effect on the high street.”

Chairman of the committee Cllr Dean Cohen added: “Most high streets have a maximum stay of one and a half to two hours. As we have seen here, the average tariff is £1.28.”

Cllr Cohen proposed an amendment to the plans to allow a special parking discount for electric and hybrid cars – a measure that currently applies in central London.

The committee also approved a new policy to remove vehicles that are in breach of traffic regulations – such as cars parked across dropped kerbs that are blocking access for residents.

Cars that are towed away under the new scheme will be subject to a standard release fee of £200 and a storage fee of £40 per day.

The changes will take effect before July 1 this year, subject to full council approval.

The new price bandings for resident parking permits are as follows.

Emissions (CO2 g/km) Annual price for first vehicle resident permit

0                                        £15

1-50                                   £25

51-75                                 £25

76-90                                 £50

91-100                               £50

101-110                             £50

111-130                             £65.55

131-150                             £71.25

151-170                             £85.50

171-190                             £99.75

191-200                             £114

201-225                             £142.50

226-255                             £171

256+                                 £182.25

There will also be a £25 surcharge for additional vehicles.