WEYMOUTH and Portland Borough Council is to consider allowing electrically powered and ‘nil’ emissions vehicles to park for free.

A notice of motion, made by Councillor Tim Munro, was voted through at a full meeting of members held at Weymouth’s Guildhall.

The motion states that free parking for these vehicles on-street and in municipal car parks would show the borough’s commitment to reducing pollution.

The notice states: “Should this motion be adopted, it will be entirely consistent with this council’s responsibilities as a signatory to the Nottingham declaration, in which this council has declared to promote the reduction of emissions.

“Free parking for the qualifying vehicles will be a clear statement that the borough of Weymouth and Portland is pro-active in the management of pollution and particularly those gases that may contribute to climate change or affect local health and well-being.

“It will encourage by incentive, vehicle owners to consider moving from carbon-fuelled vehicles to those powered by a less damaging fuel.

“As we move towards 2012, it will demonstrate that the borough of Weymouth and Portland is embracing climate change and devising innovative ways of adjusting to the challenges while delivering an improved environment for the borough’s residents and visitors.”