SAINTS-shirt wearing campaigners will pass a £100 cheque to the city council in protest of the proposed chargeable clean air zone.

The move by the TaxPayers’ Alliance will symbolise the £100-a-day commercial vehicle charge that the local authority is considering to implement in the city in a bid to tackle air pollution.

The group claims this is merely a “stealth tax” and urged the council to rethink its proposals.

Protesters will march off of a coach outside of St Mary’s Stadium, during the build up to Southampton FC’s Premier League clash with Chelsea.

Harry Fone, grassroots campaign manager of the TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “Effectively this is a stealth tax being slapped on businesses which will result in higher prices for consumers, such as higher fares for football fans travelling to Southampton on coaches.

“Worse still, businesses, particularly those using the port, may decide to operate in other cities such as Portsmouth in order to avoid the charge.

“Our research has shown that there are better options on the table to achieve cleaner air for Southampton. The City Council should work with businesses to solve the problem, rather than hit them with yet another tax.”

It comes after the 12-week consultation on the zone closed last week, 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 EU will impose on Westminster.

Councillor Steven Leggett, cabinet member for Green City, said: “The government has instructed Southampton City Council, and more than 60 other local authorities, to explore whether a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) can ensure compliance with legal air quality levels within the shortest possible time.

“We received an unprecedented response to the CAZ consultation (8,000+ responses) and we are now busy assessing that input and reviewing our previous assessment to ensure the Plan we deliver to government achieves legal requirements and is the best outcome for the city.

“If a local authority was to introduce a charging scheme any revenue generated must be solely used for financing the scheme and supporting other initiatives to improve air quality. It cannot be used to support a Council’s revenue budgets.”

Campaigners will hold their protest from midday on October 7, until 3pm.

They will also be holding protests in Southampton city centre. At both events, they will be handing out leaflets to local residents and businesses to highlight this issue.