Revised air quality plan is welcomed by car industry, but faces further legal action

Traffic flow to be considered as part of `clean air zones` that avoid charging motorists

Traffic flow to be considered as part of `clean air zones` that avoid charging motorists

The Government is set to be taken back to court by environment lawyers ClientEarth after the organisation described the latest plan in the press as "even worse than the previous effort, which has already been ruled illegal by the High Court".

ClientEarth objected to the concept of non-charging clean air zones, which were welcomed by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which on Friday praised the Government for its keenness to "avoid charigng consumers and businesses for driving their vehicles if other, more effective policies can be found," including measures to improve traffic flow. The Observer reports today that after ClientEarth's Friday statement saying that while on an initial look it seemed "weaker than we had hoped for," it would study the plan fully, it has now concluded that its plans would not bring the Government into compliance with the law.

As Transportxtra reported on Friday, the Conservative Party had taken to the press to say that its "common sense" approach to tackling pollution contrasted with Labour's reaching for more "taxes". ClientEarth CEO, James Thornton said ministers would "be forced to obey its own laws to protect our health".