A ‘Congestion Charge’ for parents dropping their children off at school could be rolled out across the UK.
The controversial scheme is being planned in Richmond, Surrey, and would require parents to pay £75 a year for using their car on the school run.
If it is successful other local authorities have indicated they would like to introduce the scheme.
Richmond Council has said that is wants to cut emissions, but some groups have labelled the proposals unfair.
From September, Lib Dem-controlled Richmond reportedly wants to charge parents £75 for a 15-minute parking permit that would allow them to use bays near their child’s school.
Those who drive large vehicles such as 4x4s and people carriers will be hardest hit and will have to pay the full charge, but those with smaller, ‘greener’ cars will pay nothing at all.
Previously it was free to park outside the school for ten minutes.
The proposals are initially only intended for 13 primary and infant schools after teachers reported large amounts of bad driving outside the schools.
Councillor David Trigg, who heads up traffic issues for the council, told the BBC: ‘It is a practical scheme.
‘What we are trying to do is reduce the number of vehicles that are accessing the schools through very small streets.
‘We hope it will make people think whether they do need to use their car to take their children to school, or whether they can use other methods, such as a car-share scheme.’
But a spokeswoman from the National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations said some parents have no choice.
‘If parents could walk their children to school, then they would.
‘But this isn't the 1950s. These days it is not unusual for both parents to work. A lot of the time their offices are far away and they need to get their kids to school quickly.’
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