Employers could be charged a levy on staff parking in a bid to cut harmful air pollution.

A ‘workplace parking levy’ (WPL) is one of the options being considered by Stoke-on-Trent City Council and Newcastle Borough Council as they try to boost air quality in both areas.

The authorities are among dozens which have been ordered by the Government to reduce unsafe levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) – which is mainly produced by motor vehicles and can cause respiratory problems.

The two North Staffordshire councils have been given until the end of October to come up with a joint plan – with a chargeable clean air zone the default option.

A WPL, combined with measures to boost greener forms of transport, is one of the alternatives which are being drawn up. The levy could be limited to the city centre and A53 – two air pollution hotspots – or potentially cover both council areas.

Other options include a traffic management scheme, which could see speed limit reductions, turning restrictions and ‘measures to improve air dispersal’ in the city centre and on the A53.

Vehicle exhaust is the main source of NO2
Vehicle exhaust is the main source of NO2

The councils must demonstrate that their plan is at least as effective as a clean air zone – which would impose a charge on the most polluting vehicles if they enter certain areas.

Leaders at the borough council are firmly opposed to both a clean air zone and a WPL, which they say will be damaging to businesses and the town centre. They believe a ‘transport/highways solution’ can reduce emissions to acceptable levels.

But a report to Newcastle cabinet says the scale of air quality issues facing the two areas is far greater than first thought, meaning the councils are likely to miss the October 31 deadline for producing a plan.

The report states: “The ministerial direction requires submission of an outline business case or full business case, which has been approved by all the councils by October 31. This has always been considered to be an extremely challenging and optimistic timescale for the assessment and completion of such a highly important and complex project.

The A53 at Basford is an air pollution hotspot
The A53 at Basford is an air pollution hotspot

“To date, indications are that this deadline is not going to be met. This is due to a few reasons including: delays in obtaining confirmation for the automatic number plate recognition camera surveys; delays in the analysis to the data collected from these surveys; initial baseline modelling indicating wider exceedances meaning larger and more complex modelling; procurement delays and the complexities of working across three organisations.

“Initial indications show that at the earliest, this work could be completed by the end of 2019 but more realistically, it is likely to be spring 2020.”

The Government says the councils’ priority should be a ‘robust assessment’, but no formal extension has been granted.

Council leader Simon Tagg has recommended that the authority presses Newcastle MP Paul Farrelly to raise concerns about a clean air zone in Parliament.

Mr Tagg is also due to hold talks with the leaders of the city council and Staffordshire County Council on the issue.

Councillor Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle Borough Council
Councillor Simon Tagg, leader of Newcastle Borough Council

Councils impose WPLs on employers, rather than individual motorists, although it is up to each employer whether they choose to pass on the cost to their staff.

Nottingham City Council introduced the UK’s first WPL in 2012, and employers in the city with more than 10 staff parking spaces are currently charged £415 per space a year.

Since the WPL’s launch it has raised more than £50 million for the council, which has helped pay for an extension to the city’s tram network and other public transport improvements.

It it not yet known how much employers would be charged under the WPL being considered in North Staffordshire.

Jonathan Bellamy, chairman of the city centre business improvement district, says that if a WPL is introduced here, any money raised ought to be reinvested in things that will boost business.

He said: “We don’t have a lot to go on at the moment, and when we get some analysis it will need to be looked at.

“But the important thing is that any money raised by a parking levy should be reinvested in improving things for businesses. It can’t just be another cost for businesses in the city centre.”

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