A team from Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working on a plan to stop a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) being implemented in the city.
Council leader Jane Ashworth described the CAZ, which was proposed by the previous administration to reduce pollution within legal limits 'in the quickest possible time', as a ‘sledgehammer to crack a nut’.
She argued it would have a negative impact on the economy. She also claimed pollution would naturally decrease as car owners buy newer car models.
‘We are now making the case clear to the government that a CAZ would be a sledgehammer to crack a nut and I’m glad to say that they are allowing us to submit a revised plan under which a CAZ would not be needed,’ she said.
Victoria Road in Fenton, where pollution levels exceed the legal limit
The new plan will aim to tackle air pollution by improving traffic flow and making it easier for people to choose alternative means of travel.
Cllr Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement, and sustainability, said: ‘Our new plan proposes better junctions to allow traffic to flow more smoothly and work to make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. We also hope to offer grants to support taxi drivers to upgrade their vehicles to ones that are less polluting.
‘The details of each part of this package aren’t finalised yet and are dependent on us making the business case, but I'm really pleased that the Government is open to hear how we can use other methods to continue to improve air quality in our city.’
In its announcement, the council did not say that its any new plan would meet the legal requirement to bring pollution within legal limits 'in the quickest possible time'.
The council has repeatedly stalled on implementing measures to cut pollution, having initially been instructed by ministers to draw up a plan by 31 January 2019.
Labour won control of the council last May.
This article first appeared on localgov.co.uk.
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