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There have been reports that the Government is due to announce a network of “clean air zones” with councils mandated to impose bans or charges on polluting vehicles that enter them.

Bright Blue has been campaigning for all English cities to be enabled to introduce low emission zones.

Commenting, Sam Hall, senior researcher at the liberal conservative think tank Bright Blue, said:

“Last year, Bright Blue proposed enabling all English cities to establish low emission zones in pollution hotspots. It is great news that that the Government is planning to adopt this policy by setting up low emission zones in over 35 cities.

“Air pollution is a serious public health issue that goes well beyond just a few cities. Our research has shown that 40% of local authorities in the UK breached legal air pollution limits in 2015. Low emission zones are a targeted solution to cutting air pollution that reduce the number of old polluting vehicles entering polluted cities. They also ensure that the owners of these vehicles pay the social costs of their pollution.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For further media enquiries, please contact our Communications Manager of Bright Blue, Laura Round, on laura@brightblue.org.uk or 07543759844.