GREEN campaigners have slammed civic chiefs claiming they should be clamping down on cars, not just commercial vehicles, if they want to lower pollution in the city.

Campaign group Greener Journeys warns that Southampton City Council’s plan to improve air quality will “do nothing” to halt the pollution issue because it fails to include cars – which, they say, are the biggest polluters.

Environmental lawfirm ClientEarth agrees that there are “reasons for concern” over the proposals.

The plans, which are currently in a 12-week consultation, include a recommendation for an up-to-£100 a day chargeable zone for heavy goods vehicles, coaches, and buses. Taxis would be billed £12.50.

Civic chiefs say this zone will meet government guidance of reaching an emissions target “in the quickest possible way”.

As reported, Southampton is one of five cities in the UK under pressure from Westminster to improve its air quality by 2020 or face a massive EU fine.

The city needs to reduce its nitrogen dioxide level to below 40 micrograms per cubic air metre. It is currently 42 micrograms.

Claire Haigh, chief executive of Greener Journeys, said: “The decision of Southampton City Council to rule out charging cars in their Clean Air Zone represents a failure of government policy to tackle our air pollution crisis.

“Government guidance directs councils to target buses not cars, but cars are by far the biggest polluters on our roads. With car usage increasing year-on-year, the decision to not charge car drivers will only worsen air pollution and will inevitably lead to further congestion.

“We urge Government to support councils in their efforts to tackle air pollution by providing clear evidence-based guidance. And we urge Southampton City Council to include charging cars in their plan.”

She added: “If Clean Air Zones are to be effective, they must include the biggest polluters and they must tackle congestion. A modern, diesel double-decker bus can take 75 cars off the road, helping to solve both pollution and congestion problems across our cities.”

Experts have also warned that the city’s pollution problem is shortening the lives of 100 people a year.

ClientEarth senior campaigner Andrea Lee added: “We can already identify some reasons for concern.

“Diesel cars contribute most heavily to the air pollution problem in our towns and cities and it’s no different in Southampton – yet none of the Clean Air Zone proposals tackle this problem head-on.

“Meanwhile, several illegally polluted roads in Southampton are not controlled by the city council and therefore fall outside of the scope of these proposals – including the M3 and M27 motorways. We are worried about what that means for the people in those areas as they also have a right to be protected from illegal and harmful levels of air pollution.

“This highlights that in passing the buck to local authorities, the UK government is failing to fully address the issue. We need leadership from government ministers. It is they who are responsible for making sure the air across the country is safe to breathe.”

In response, the authority said: “Southampton City Council and New Forest District Council have been mandated to devise a plan that is likely to bring annual average concentrations of nitrogen into compliance with EU limit levels within the shortest time possible.

“Assessments completed to date indicate that a Class B Clean Air Zone (which includes Buses, Coaches, Taxis and HGVs) is sufficient to achieve this.

“Whilst it is evident that private vehicles, and in particular diesel cars, contribute significantly to emissions a more stringent clean air zone is not necessary to achieve these improvements.

“Our economic assessment does though indicate it would introduce an adverse economic burden on those households least able to upgrade their vehicles or afford a charge.

“Our modelling suggests that following the introduction of a Class B CAZ our most persistent exceedances could be reduced by up to 6 ug/m3 bringing levels down to 37-38 ug/m3 by 2020 and, below the 40 ug/m3 value set by the EU and the World Health Organisation.”

The plans for the zone are currently in a consultation stage. To take part, visit: southampton.gov.uk/CAZconsultation