Diesel drivers to pay congestion charge in 16 cities to create ‘clean air zones’ from 2020
Six city-wide 'clean air zones' in Leeds, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, London and Southampton will launch in 2020
DIESEL drivers may face a pollution fee when entering 16 city centres following a High Court judgement.
Plans for six city-wide 'clean air zones' in Leeds, Derby, Nottingham, Birmingham, London and Southampton mean drivers will have to pay charges by 2020.
It comes as new data shows that petrol and diesel prices are rising at the fastest rate for eight years.
It now costs £64.20 to fill an average-sized 55-litre petrol family car, with a similar diesel car costing £65.25 per tank to fill, according to the RAC.
Yesterday, a High Court judge ruled that the Government needs to do more to meet EU air pollution targets.
If plans go ahead a further 10 cities, including Liverpool and Manchester, will also roll out the charges by 2025.
Previously it was only diesel lorries, buses, taxis and some vans that would have paid the new charge, however, car drivers may now be included.
This move could be in place by next year in London and 2018 in other big cities.
Judge Mr Justice Garnham said it was “remarkable” that ministers had previously relied on “optimistic” emissions tests and ignored “higher, more realistic” figures to delay action.
James Thornton, boss of non-profit environmental law group ClientEarth, said yesterday: “The time for legal action is over. This is an urgent public health crisis over which the Prime Minister must take personal control.
"I challenge Theresa May to take immediate action now to deal with illegal levels of pollution and prevent tens of thousands of additional early deaths in the UK.
"The High Court has ruled that more urgent action must be taken. Britain is watching and waiting, Prime Minister."
Alan Andrews, lawyer for ClientEarth said: "We need a national network of clean air zones to be in place by 2018 in cities across the UK, not just in a handful of cities.
"The government also needs to stop these inaccurate modelling forecasts. Future projections of compliance need to be based on what is really coming out of the exhausts of diesel cars when driving on the road, not just the results of discredited laboratory tests.”
The Government said it would not appeal against the decision. PM Theresa May told the Commons: “Nobody in this house doubts the importance of the issue of air quality.”