Local Authorities to lead on tackling diesel emissions

Local Authorities are tasked with playing a leading role in the UK Government’s plan to tackle roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations and improve air quality, announced yesterday.

The UK Plan for Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations outlines how councils with the worst levels of air pollution at busy road junctions and hotspots must take ‘robust action’.

The Government’s analysis of over 1,800 of Britain’s major roads shows that 81 are due to breach legal pollution limits for NO2, with 33 of these outside of London.

Local authorities will be able to bid for money from a new Clean Air Fund to support improvements which could include changing road layouts, removing traffic lights and speed humps or upgrading bus fleets.

A £255 million implementation fund will be provided for all immediate work to deliver plans within eight months to address poor air quality in the shortest time possible

The £40 million Clean Bus Technology Fund grant scheme is part of a £290 million National Productivity Investment Fund announced in the Autumn Statement . It plans to limit emissions from up to 2350 older buses. Further details will be announced later this year.

The Government also announced that van drivers will be able to use heavier vehicles providing they are electric or gas-powered.

The plans also include changes to the law which mean that manufacturers found to be using devices on their vehicles to cheat emissions tests could face criminal and civil charges, with fines of up to £50,000.

Michael Gove, environment secretary, said: “Improving air quality is about more than just transport, so next year we will publish a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy. This will set out how we will address all forms of air pollution.”

Chris Grayling, transport secretary, added: “We are taking bold action and want nearly every car and van on UK roads to be zero emission by 2050. Today we commit £100 million towards new low-emission buses and retrofitting older buses with cleaner engines.

“We are also putting forward proposals for van drivers to have the right to use heavier vehicles if they are electric or gas-powered, making it easier for businesses to opt for cleaner commercial vehicles.”

The government plans to issue a consultation in the autumn to gather views on measures to support motorists, residents and businesses affected by local plans.