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Diesel car drivers face new restrictions in cities
Government plans suggest more cities will have to impose "clean air zones" restricting the most polluting vehicles
The most polluting cars are likely to face new restrictions Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
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By Emily Gosden
7:43PM BST 13 Sep 2015
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Diesel car owners are likely to face more restrictions on driving in city centres, under Government plans to improve air quality.
New “clean air zones” charging or even banning the most polluting vehicles are likely to be needed in six English cities that are projected to fail EU air quality standards by 2020, a new strategy paper from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs suggests.
London, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton should all “consider the role of access restrictions for certain types of vehicles”, it says.
The cities should also look at introducing low-emission buses and taxis and consider installing electric car charging points, upgrading cycling infrastructure and introducing or expanding park and ride schemes.
Currently 38 out of 43 geographical ‘zones’ in the UK are failing EU air quality standards due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide – the gas that is emitted by burning fuels, especially diesel.
Nitrogen dioxide causes 23,500 deaths a year, according to new estimates from Defra.
Figures also suggest 29,000 people are killed each year by particulates produced by diesel, although Defra sources suggested there may be some overlap between the numbers.
The UK could face hundreds of millions of pounds in EU fines as a result of its poor air quality and in April the UK Supreme Court ordered ministers to set out plans to tackle the failings by the end of the year.
The new Defra paper says that on current projections, 35 out of 43 UK zones will be compliant with EU rules by 2020 – more than had been thought, thanks to improvements in vehicle emissions standards.
However, the six cities it identifies, as well as the eastern and South Wales zones, are on track to fail without further improvements.
London is already planning to introduce the UK’s first ultra-low emissions zone from 2020 and roll out more electric and hybrid buses in coming years.
Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary said: “Clean air is vital to our health and our environment and for making sure our cities are attractive places for people to live and work.
“Tackling air pollution is a priority for this government, and we want local authorities and members of the public to come forward and share ideas on action to be taken at local level to make our nation cleaner.”
Government plans suggest more cities will have to impose "clean air zones" restricting the most polluting vehicles
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The most polluting cars are likely to face new restrictions Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images The hole-in-one becomes a numbers game Kyle McCarron enjoys his moment as the BOSS Watches H1 Club longest hole-in-one record holderSponsored by BOSS Watches
By Emily Gosden
7:43PM BST 13 Sep 2015
Follow
7 Comments Diesel car owners are likely to face more restrictions on driving in city centres, under Government plans to improve air quality.
New “clean air zones” charging or even banning the most polluting vehicles are likely to be needed in six English cities that are projected to fail EU air quality standards by 2020, a new strategy paper from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs suggests.
London, Birmingham, Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton should all “consider the role of access restrictions for certain types of vehicles”, it says.
The cities should also look at introducing low-emission buses and taxis and consider installing electric car charging points, upgrading cycling infrastructure and introducing or expanding park and ride schemes.
Currently 38 out of 43 geographical ‘zones’ in the UK are failing EU air quality standards due to high levels of nitrogen dioxide – the gas that is emitted by burning fuels, especially diesel.
Nitrogen dioxide causes 23,500 deaths a year, according to new estimates from Defra.
Figures also suggest 29,000 people are killed each year by particulates produced by diesel, although Defra sources suggested there may be some overlap between the numbers.
The UK could face hundreds of millions of pounds in EU fines as a result of its poor air quality and in April the UK Supreme Court ordered ministers to set out plans to tackle the failings by the end of the year.
The new Defra paper says that on current projections, 35 out of 43 UK zones will be compliant with EU rules by 2020 – more than had been thought, thanks to improvements in vehicle emissions standards.
However, the six cities it identifies, as well as the eastern and South Wales zones, are on track to fail without further improvements.
London is already planning to introduce the UK’s first ultra-low emissions zone from 2020 and roll out more electric and hybrid buses in coming years.
Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary said: “Clean air is vital to our health and our environment and for making sure our cities are attractive places for people to live and work.
“Tackling air pollution is a priority for this government, and we want local authorities and members of the public to come forward and share ideas on action to be taken at local level to make our nation cleaner.”
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