Government's announcement today that new petrol and diesel vehicles will be banned by 2040 have been criticised by commentators who want to see action taken sooner to clean up filthy air.

Environmental law firm Client Earth, which has recently taken Government to Court over its air quality plans, said that moving people to cleaner vehicles by 2040 is welcome, but added: “Illegal pollution must be tackled as soon as possible.”

Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Sue Hayman said: “We have had seven years of illegal air pollution under this Conservative Government who have only acted after being dragged through the courts. With nearly 40 million people living in areas with illegal levels of air pollution, action is needed now, not in 23 years’ time.”

Green party co-leader Caroline Lucas called for greater effort to cut air pollution now, including new clean air zones, a funded diesel scrappage and more investment in public transport.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove told the BBC this morning that he accepts that action also needs to be taken now to address pollution from vehicle emissions, but said it is up to local authorities to come up with “appropriate plans to deal with the challenges they face”.

Around £200M will be made available from Government to allow councils to push forward plans such as retrofitting buses and placing restrictions on drivers entering certain towns.

“We are saying to local authorities: ‘You come up with imaginative solutions and we will come up with additional money to help’.”

He also said a national road charging scheme is not necessary, but said if local authorities “believe charging is necessary, we will work with them”. A national charging scheme would be, he said, a “blunt instrument and I prefer a series of surgical interventions which are fairer to drivers and more effective.”

(Photo: Alvey & Towers)