Richmond and Twickenham Friends of the Earth today voiced concerns over council plans to scrap a CO2 linked parking scheme.

In a letter addressed to councillors the environmental group said abolishing the scheme would send a message to residents that the council was not concerned about reducing CO2 emissions.

The letter read: "The group is particularly concerned about the cost of the measures and the failure to consider the impact on the council's existing climate change strategy.

"We are concerned that the proposals are signalling very clearly to residents that the new administration is not concerned about reducing Richmond's CO2 emissions and regards efforts to do so as contrary to the interests of residents.

"Tackling climate change is the most crucial challenge faced by humanity and measures which do this are in the interests of all residents, from owners of 4x4 vehicles to the many people in the borough who do not own cars."

Under the CO2 based parking scheme residents pay different amounts to park in controlled parking zones (CPZs) based on their car’s carbon emissions.

But the scheme, brought in by the former Liberal Democrat administration, has been dismissed by the new Conservative leadership as “unfair and ineffective”.

The decision to abolish the scheme was called in by the opposition and will go before a scrutiny committee at Richmond Council tonight at York House.