car tax: new taxes set to be launched in Portsmouth despite ‘better and cheaper’ options

0


[ad_1]

Portsmouth will present its Clean Air Zone on November 29, 2021, with a daily fee charged to non-compliant vehicles circulating in the city. Private cars, motorcycles and vans will not be charged in Portsmouth CAZ, while taxis and non-compliant private hire vehicles will be charged £ 10 per day.

“The aim is to age polluting vehicles so that they do not pass through Portsmouth.”

Hayley Trower, Air Quality Improvement Officer for Portsmouth City Council, also commented on CAZ and what it will mean for drivers.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, she said: ‘With the grants we have given we have been able to help businesses not only in Portsmouth but also on the Isle of Wight who can demonstrate they are crossing the CAZ . regularly.

“They are not treated any differently from any other business, but what our evidence has shown is that our two illegal levels of pollution are found, there is significant vehicle traffic going to the Isle of Wight.

He said: “We are not very excited because we think there are better and cheaper ways to improve air pollution. If we had free bus passes for everyone in the city, a lot of people would leave their cars at home.

“But the government won’t do it, it has only one way to do it.

“We asked them to make a scrapping plan to get rid of the most polluted cars in the city center, the government is not interested.

“This is really what a government designed program looks like and they are right, we need to tackle air pollution. It is very important that we do this.

“We just think there are probably better and more efficient ways to do it,” he told Express.co.uk.

A government spokesperson said: “Although air pollution across the country has declined significantly since 2010, we know there is still a long way to go.

“This is why we are investing £ 880million to clean up transport and reduce pollution as soon as possible, working with local authorities to urgently tackle emissions.

“We are investing £ 8.6million across Portsmouth to help reduce nitrogen dioxide levels.”

They also said that decisions about introducing clean air zones remain the responsibility of local councils, in consultation with residents and local businesses.

[ad_2]

Share.

Comments are closed.