ClientEarth has written to 38 local authorities in England and Wales warning of the legal risk of inaction on air pollution. The environmental organisation previously won judgements against the government which lead to Clean Air Zones being implemented in Derby, Leeds, Birmingham, Nottingham and Southampton. However there are concerns that the wide range of regimes the highways sector will need to adapt to will lead to inefficiency and higher costs for clients.

Read our technical article on the issue here (members only).

ClientEarth lawyer, Katie Nield, said "It is now almost a decade since legal limits came into place and they are still being broken in large parts of the country. Every week that goes by without action is another week where people are breathing in harmful air pollution which damages their health."

The full list of local authorities they have written to can be found at this link.