ONLY two types of car will qualify for a parking permit discount under new council rules, according to a resident.

Currently, drivers of vehicles emitting up to to 120g/km of CO2 get a 50 per cent discount on parking permits. Now cars will need to be ultra low emission vehicles, producing less than 75g/km, to qualify for money off.

Heworth resident Alasdair McIntosh, speaking at a City of York Council meeting, said there were only two cars that meet these emission requirements without the need for electric charging.

He said: “The council must ensure that residents are actually able to run an ultra low emissions vehicle. Currently this is pretty much impossible.

“For the last two years I have been in contact with the council about how I can charge an electric car. I would like to install a cable and the cost to the council would be zero.”

But council officers said this could not be done as it posed safety risks and a marked parking bay would have to be created.

Green councillor Andy D’Agorne, speaking at the meeting, said: “This change is a slap in the face for 1,100 residents who thought they had an affordable Respark charge, by virtue of driving a low emission vehicle.”

He asked how anyone living on a terraced street can recharge an ultra low emission vehicle, adding: “If the council is serious about air quality, this is not the way to tackle the problem. Our residents are seen as fair game for this attack in the guise of cleaning up our air quality.”

A council officer said: “It’s a national issue and we are looking to introduce this slowly to encourage people to change vehicles.

“The council is being very progressive. We are actively looking at rapid charging points and we are requiring the York Central development to put on-site charging points.”

Cllr Peter Dew, executive member for transport, approved the change to the parking permit emission charges, saying: “I think it is a reasonable compromise.”

Residents who currently have a discounted permit will continue to have a reduced rate for four years with their current car but new rules will apply if they change their vehicle.