Tyneside council leaders have demanded urgent answers from the Government, as major concerns surround new clean air tolls due to come into force in Newcastle this summer.
Drivers of many high-polluting vehicles will face daily charges of up to £50 to get into the city centre from this July, under radical plans to slash illegal emissions levels.
But with less than five months to go until the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) comes into force, crucial questions remain unanswered and no financial help has been made available for motorists who want to upgrade to cleaner vehicles that would be exempt from the tolls – with particular fears for the impact on small businesses and taxi drivers.
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Lorries, buses and coaches are due to be charged £50 per day to drive into the city centre CAZ if they do not comply with emissions standards, while the worst-polluting vans and taxis will be charged £12.50 per day.
The charges will only affect older vehicles which do not meet environmental standards and all private cars will be exempt.
But the Government is still yet to give final approval for the CAZ to come into operation.
And of most concern to local officials is the fact that the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has also failed to respond to a £23m request from Newcastle and Gateshead councils that would allow them to offer grants of up to £20,000 per vehicle to help companies, small business owners, and taxi drivers upgrade to newer models.
That leaves serious worries about whether such funding can be issued by the Government, a grant system set up locally, and drivers apply and receive their cash in time for the CAZ’s introduction.
The councils were offered £16m to pay for such grants last year but thought that was insufficient and went back to ask for more from the Government, and now say they cannot begin advertising grants until they know exactly what they can afford.
Details of some exemptions from toll charges, including for emergency services vehicles and those waiting to be retrofitted, are also yet to be signed off by Defra.
Coun Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “Despite having submitted our proposals back in October, we are still waiting for approval for our final business case from government and, more importantly, for confirmation of the funding that will be provided to support and protect North East drivers and businesses.
“Clearly we need this information as a matter of urgency. We have only five months until the CAZ is due to be introduced and drivers need time to apply for grants and to upgrade their vehicles.”
Greater Manchester’s highly-contentious CAZ plan has been delayed after mayor Andy Burham asked for more time to revise the proposals, following a public backlash and concerns that it was unlikely to deliver compliance with legal pollution limits by the original target date of 2024.
While there are similar concerns on Tyneside about the costs and availability of cleaner vehicles that drivers could upgrade to, leaders here are not asking for a pause or delay to their CAZ at this stage.
Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes added: “This is a worrying time for people who are facing additional costs, not to mention potential delays in obtaining a new vehicle due to the serious supply chain issues affecting other parts of the country where government Clean Air Zones are being brought in.
“We want to be able to give clear information and details about the financial support that will be offered and we’re asking government to act now so that we can give people some certainty and reassurance of the help available to them.”
The Newcastle CAZ, being introduced in response to a legal order from the Government to cut air pollution, was meant to come into force in January 2021, but was pushed back amid delays caused by a High Court battle and the Covid-19 pandemic.
The proposed toll zone covers most of Newcastle city centre, including the routes in over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges.
A Defra spokesperson said: “Air pollution at a national level has reduced significantly since 2010 – emissions of fine particulate matter have fallen by 11%, while emissions of nitrogen oxides are at their lowest level since records began.
“We know there is more to do and we are working closely with local councils to drive down pollution and improve public health. To support Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council, we have provided them with almost £20m to implement their CAZ scheme and to develop grant schemes.
“We are assessing the detailed business case provided by the councils alongside our independent expert panels.”
