Help drivers to ditch diesel, ministers urged

MINISTERS are being urged to bring in a diesel scrappage scheme after it emerged that drivers could face pollution taxes of up to £20 a day in several towns and cities.

The Government is examining plans to reduce pollution in 10 cities by barring commercial vehicles and diesel cars at peak hours or by bringing in charges. In another 25 towns commercial diesels such as lorries, coaches and taxis would be the main target of bans and charges.

The measures are due to be announced by Andrea Leadsom, the Environment Secretary, later this month and would force councils to tackle nitrous oxide and particulate pollution.

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, will this week announce that from 2019 the most polluting vehicles will be charged £12.50 to enter London inside the North Circular and South Circular roads. The charge is on top of the £10 congestion charge. Pollution payments could be introduced in Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby under new “clean air zones”.

The initiatives have prompted calls for ministers to bring in a diesel scrappage scheme to incentivise motorists to swap their vehicles.

Jason McCartney, a Conservative MP, said: “If this is going to happen then I would like to see some proposals brought forward for a diesel scrappage scheme.

“A lot of diesel drivers bought their vehicles in good faith, before all this data started to come through about air quality and pollution. I think it’s really important that proposals are brought forwards to help drivers.”

The new anti-pollution measures are expected after the High Court ruled that existing plans did not meet legal obligations to address air quality.

A government source disputed the number of towns and cities to be affected. They added: “Our intention is to publish our plans in due course.”