A congestion charge will not work in Coventry as the city is simply too small, a leading cabinet member has said – fearing the move would be “economically disastrous”.
The government has rejected Coventry City Council’s measures to reduce high levels of pollution and ordered it to implement a Class D clean air zone “as soon as possible”.
Such a change would force the most polluting buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs LGVs and cars to pay a daily ‘pollution charge’.
But Cllr Jim O’Boyle has accused the government of ruling “with an iron fist”, adding a clean air zone will not work in a city the size of Coventry – nor will it reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) quicker than the council’s own plan.
“They are saying parts of the ring road at certain times of the day are above limits,” said Cllr O’Boyle, the council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration.
“What that means is every single arterial road that leads to the ring road is affected.
“We cannot just isolate it to one road.
“Geographically we are very small. It is a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
“It is not the size of London or Manchester. We really rely on our city centre. To close it to people who cannot afford it would achieve nothing.
“In Coventry we have an older stock of diesel engines than anyone else, so we are penalising people who cannot afford it.
“We are penalising people and to shut off the city centre would be economically disastrous.”
Watch: How dangerous is the air where you live?
A number of council’s across the country have been told to reduce NO2 by 2021 after the European Commission took legal action against the UK government.
Coventry’s plan included encouraging electric-powered taxis, cleaner engines on 100 buses, new walking and cycling routes, road closures and traffic restrictions.
“The government is under political pressure and have not done anything,” said Cllr O’Boyle.
“They feel they have got to respond but instead of doing it themselves they have told councils who are already hard-pressed with austerity.
“We based it on solid evidence and expert advice.
“We modelled it and measured it on traffic data but the government have not done that as it is based on national data not local data.
“It is all very well saying we need to do this but economically it matters as these are people we are talking about.
“We want to reduce NO2 as it is not good enough, but lets work together instead of them using the iron fist.”
The council has been told to revise its plan by June 14.
The revision must include details on the clean air zone and charges, but Cllr O’Boyle said it will also include additional measures to avoid a congestion charge altogether.
He said: “We are having those conversations and engaging with them.
“Nottingham and Southampton have put forward proposals which mean they haven’t had to have a clean air zone. If they can demonstrate they do not need it then so can we.”
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