Critics slam clean air zone ‘dog’s breakfast’ Opposition parties say move will hit firms and the poor
PLAN’S for a “clean air zone” in Birmingham city centre have been condemned as a “dog’s breakfast”.
Senior councillors in Birmingham have now approved the plan to charge high-polluting vehicles.
Details are still being ironed out but the plans were criticised for being rushed through, and hitting businesses and poorer people, according to opposition councillors.
The criticism came as the council’s ruling Labour cabinet agreed to submit the controversial plans to introduce a zone by 2020 to the Government for approval.
But Monday’s vote by the cabinet means the zone is highly likely to go ahead – coming into force for motorists in January 2020.
Under the proposed scheme, highpolluting cars, lorries and buses will be charged to enter the city centre within the A4540 middle ring road.
But Lib Dem and Conservative opposition slammed the proposed scheme.
Councillor Jon Hunt (Lib Dem, Perry Barr) said: “This is a huge step for the city, but one which is being taken with great haste. This is not focused on where people live, but the city centre where the businesses are.”
He said that polluting cars using the A38 Aston Expressway will be forced to bypass the city centre, clogging up the already busy Darmouth Circus and delivering more pollution to the residents of Newtown, Aston and Nechells.
“It is a dog’s breakfast of a scheme,” he added.
He asked why there was no plan for a subsidised park and ride scheme to encourage people to take public transport.
Conservative group leader Robert Alden was also scathing, pointing out that the consultation had failed to convince more than a handful of people that a clean air zone is a good idea.
He also accused the council of failing to present a vision for improving clean air saying that instead they have a plan which “taxes people but doesn’t clean their air”.
Cllr Alden said the proposed £2,000 scrappage scheme would not allow those on low incomes to upgrade to a much newer and cleaner car. He said the retail industry had also been ignored, even though large numbers of people said they would no longer shop in Birmingham if charged.
“It’s the wrong plan for Birmingham, ignores the consultation, it is going to harm residents and businesses, particularly those on low incomes,” he said.
Labour council leader Ian Ward hit back, pointing out the council was under a Conservative Government directive to introduce a clean air zone as quickly as possible.
The cabinet heard that consultation was not about whether the city should have a clean air zone, but how far the charge should be extended and which vehicles should pay.
It was also pointed out that any money raised from the charge would be invested in transport infrastructure.
Speaking after the meeting Green councillor Julien Pritchard (Druids Heath and Monyhull) said: “The city centre is not the only part of the city suffering from appalling air quality, but the council plans focus too narrowly on meeting legal limits in the city centre, and does not take a much needed city-wide approach.
“We urgently need investment in alternatives such as public transport and walking and cycling to really tackle the city’s appalling air quality in the long term.”