New car tax fees ‘badly needed’ across the UK with petrol and diesel owners impacted
Calls for introducing more Clean Air Zones across the UK have emerged with petrol and diesel owners set to be affected.
Clean Air Zone car tax fees are “one of the most effective ways” to cut down pollution with campaigners pushing for the introduction of new schemes across the UK.
Transport & Environment has supported the installation of more zones which slap fees on motorists who use the most polluting petrol and diesel vehicles.
Clean Air Zones are already in place across eight regions in the UK including major cities such as Birmingham, Sheffield and London.
Other schemes include zones in Bath, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth and Tyneside which includes Newcastle and Gateshead.
However, the campaign group has stressed more schemes could be beneficial with the zones “badly needed” in many regions.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Ralph Palmer, Electric Vehicle and Fleets Officer at Transport & Environment said: “In an ideal world we wouldn't need Clean Air Zones.
“But right now they are one of the most effective ways to reduce traffic pollution and this is badly needed given all urban areas of the UK have levels of toxic air.”
T&E has previously called for the introduction of new Clean Air Zones across the country with other major cities targeted.
It comes after analysis by the group showed a 40 percent drop in sales of diesel fuel in London due to the effects of the Ultra Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ).
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T&E previously wrote: “By replicating low emissions zones in cities throughout the country, we could further secure the UK’s energy."
The group highlighted Liverpool and Greater Manchester as two examples of cities which should be adopting schemes.
The report read: “Transport & Environment UK sees no reason why other regions across the UK could not introduce clean air measures and, at a national level, that rules specifically targeted at reducing diesel use need to be considered.”
However, Clean Air Zone charges are likely to be hugely unpopular with petrol and diesel owners charged £12.50 per day to use the streets in London.
Ralph told Express.co.uk: “Research shows city leaders will have introduced more than 500 Low Emission Zones across Europe by the end of next year and this is partly a response to a lack of action at a national and European level to protect public health in the aftermath of dieselgate.
“Clean Air Zones are very effective and they work best when national and city leaders work together, not against one another.”
