The Government have introduced their air quality plans which include commitments to create 'Clean Air Zones' in Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton where air quality problems are seen to be 'most serious'.
The Government also intend to set out a clear national framework for Clean Air Zones to encourage their implementation elsewhere in the UK.
The plans mean that after 2020, the 'most polluting' buses, taxis, coaches and lorries will be discouraged from driving in the five cities and charged to enter. However, Local authorities will only be able to set charges at levels designed to reduce pollution, not to raise additional revenue, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has said.
Additionally, Birmingham and Leeds will also discourage the most polluting diesel vans and implement other possible measures such as park and ride schemes, signage, changes in road layouts and provision of infrastructure for alternative fuels.
However, private car owners will remain unaffected by the five Clean Air Zones (CAZs) which is contrary to London's Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
Campaigners claim research shows air pollution causes about 29,000 early deaths in the UK every year. Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has said: "We want to ensure people can continue to drive into city centres and by targeting action at the most polluting coaches, taxis, buses and lorries we will encourage the use of cleaner vehicles."
Similar zones have been implemented in Germany and Denmark which have "been shown to lead to an improvement in air quality”, says the Government. Moreover, delivering the zones by 2020 will give businesses time to prepare for the change in order to minimise the impact.
For more information, see:
