Diesel drivers could be charged to enter Southampton in major air pollution shake-up

Now the owners of diesel cars could be charged every time they drive into Southampton city centre under drastic plans to tackle the issue of toxic air.

It follows a High Court ruling that the government is not doing enough to combat the country's pollution hot spots.

Poisonous emissions are thought to be responsible for at least 40,000 premature deaths across the UK every year, including 110 in Southampton.

The Daily Echo's Breath Easy campaign aims to turn the spotlight on the issue and highlight the measures being taken to tackle it.

Government ministers have already drawn up plans to create Clean Air Zones in Southampton and five other cities by the year 2020.

Measures include plans to levy a charge on the owners of diesel vehicles such as buses, lorries and taxis.

However, the scheme could now be extended to include cars, with experts predicting that drivers may be forced to pay up to £10 every time they enter the city centre.

Prime Minister Theresa May has accepted the High Court ruling, admitting the government needs to do more to improve air quality.

It could result in Southampton and other cities introducing a charging system similar to the one used by motorists affected by the congestion charge in London.

Drivers either pay online or sign up to an automated payment scheme, which records the number of times a vehicle enters the zone and automatically takes a payment from the owner's bank account.

Diesel cars emit high levels of nitrogen dioxide and are responsible for up to 40 per cent of pollution.

Liz Batten, of Clean Air Southampton, described pollution as a public health emergency and added: "We look forward to hearing how the government plans to help Southampton respond, given that it's a port and an airport and has big problems with infrastructure.

"A quick plan is not going to solve this.

"We need substantial financial support to change the way we get around and change our city into a really pleasant place to walk and cycle, where cars are not necessary for short journeys because public transport is so good.

"With the right vision and enough money we could have a city to be really proud of."

Diesel car ownership has soared since tax incentives encouraged a shift away from petrol-powered vehicles.

The move was intended to reduce greenhouses gases, but although diesel vehicles produce less carbon dioxide they emit high levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Ms Batten said the owners of older diesel vehicles should be given a financial incentive to buy the newest types of petrol-driven cars.

She said: "People bought diesel vehicles in good faith because the government encouraged them to do so. Now they're going to try to penalise them and I think it's all wrong."

A government spokesman added: “Improving air quality is a priority for this government and we are determined to cut harmful emissions.

“Our plans have always followed the best available evidence - we have always been clear that we are ready to update them if necessary and have been at the forefront of action in Europe to secure more accurate, real-world emissions testing for diesel cars.

“Whilst our huge investment in green transport initiatives and plans to introduce Clean Air Zones around the country will help tackle this problem, we accept the court’s judgment.

“We will now carefully consider this ruling - and our next steps - in detail.”

A city council spokesman said the High Court ruling meant the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was required to "revisit" its air quality plans.

He added: "We’ll find out in due course what that might mean specifically for Southampton."

Cllr Chris Hammond, Cabinet member for transformation projects, said: "Improving the quality of the air we breathe is our priority and we will continue to press ahead with our plans for the early implementation of the Clean Air Zone and other measures as part of the Clean Air Strategy.

"As an administration we welcome the recent ruling and are ready to work proactively with the government, whilst they improve their plans."

The High Court case was brought by environmental lobby group ClientEarth.

Theri lawyer Alan Andrews said: "It’s clear we need a national network of clean air zones, just like Defra had originally planned before the Treasury squashed it. The government must consider including the most polluting cars in this scheme, something which it has refused to do until now.

“We would like to see this coupled with a targeted scrappage scheme for the most polluting vehicles and a major investment in clean public transport, cycling and walking - so people have clean alternatives to driving their dirty diesel cars."