Ministers were today warned against backing away from “deterrents” to stop cars belching out filthy fumes being driven into toxic air blackspots.
The Government is to publish its draft air quality plan within days after being ordered to do so by the High Court. It is expected to tell town halls to explore all other options on air pollution before imposing new levies on motorists.
Measures could include removing road bumps and changing traffic light sequencing so queues of vehicles do not build up spewing out dirty fumes.
But environmental law firm ClientEarth, which has already defeated the Government three times in court over its failures to cut nitrogen dioxide levels, warned ministers against publishing another flawed plan.
Lawyer Anna Heslop urged the Government to introduce “ambitious measures” to deal with toxic air “in the shortest time possible”. “One of the key measures for that is to have a national network of clean air zones,” she told BBC radio. “Normally that involves charging those most polluting vehicles to drive in ... it’s a deterrent.”
