A SOUTHAMPTON group has blasted the council for claiming a clean air zone will not impact businesses in the city.

Southampton Shipowners Association says its members are worried about the proposed zone, which could charge commercial vehicles up to £100-a-day to enter the city.

It comes after new Green City cabinet member Steven Leggett told councillors that the city council has “not seen any evidence of an economic impact” on the city if a zone was introduced, nor any affect on jobs.

But Ashley Jenkins, co-chair of the association, says members of the group “fail to see how the council can claim the proposals will not affect jobs”.

He said: “The introduction of such a charge could lead to a relocation of businesses to another port with the consequent loss of significant number of jobs in the city.

“The entire logistics sector tends to rely on very small margins that cannot withstand unplanned business charges such as a clean air zone charge.”

Mr Jenkins added that one local operator has said it could lose 50 jobs should the full £100 charge come into effect.

He also said that the uncertainty arising from the proposals is also leading to delays and potential shelving of investment plans.

It comes after the 12-week consultation period for a proposed clean air zone closed on September 1, with more than 8,000 local residents taking part.

The local authority has been tasked by central government to reduce its nitrogen dioxide amount to the EU-imposed level of below 40 micrograms per cubic air metre by 2022. It is currently 42 micrograms.

If it fails to do so, the council will be billed for the hefty fine the European Union will impose on Westminster.

“There is one point we wish to make clear,” Mr Jenkins said.

“This is not a “project fear” approach, we are all on the same side here; our members live and work here in Southampton and we all wish to see environmental progress in a sustained and responsible manner.

“But again we state, from the council’s own data, that Southampton will be fully compliant with all EU clean air regulations by 2020/21.

“The proposed clean air zone road charging regime will not accelerate this progress in any significant manner and by deviating traffic to other ports will actually increase emissions.”

However, despite Mr Jenkins making this point, the city council has disputed claims that no clean air action will make take the city to compliant levels.

Now, in response to the backlash, Councillor Stephen Leggett, cabinet member for Green City, said: “The information supporting the clean air zone consultation included an economic assessment that evaluated the costs and benefits of a charging scheme and reported an overall positive outcome.

“Nonetheless, any form of change can impact specific business sectors and we intend to use the consultation exercise to identify these and how they might be supported.

“We received an unprecedented response to the consultation and are now collating and considering the extensive evidence and feedback received. This will inform the decision about whether a charging clean air zone is required to achieve legal compliance with air quality standards and if this is the case what support can be provided to businesses who might be disproportionally affected.”