Drive a diesel car? Prepare to pay a toxin tax of up to £20 a DAY

A fresh anti-pollution policy could hit the pockets of diesel drivers

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• 11:Nineteen, three APR 2017
• Updated 11:30, three APR 2017

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Drive a diesel car? Then you could soon be coughing up extra cash.

That’s because plans are reportedly afoot for a fresh ‘toxin tax’ of up to £20 a DAY – part of a bid to tackle air pollution.

The fresh crackdown was unveiled this week by Environment Secretary Andrea Leadsom, according to the Sunday Times .

It reports around thirty five towns and cities will have bans on diesel cars and commercial vehicles, daily charges on them injecting the busiest areas, or a combination of the two.

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Up to ten million cars could be affected in cities including Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby, it’s reported.

It’s not yet known if Greater Manchester will be included in the plan, but there is an emphasis on reducing emissions in the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy up to 2040.

The region is committed to reducing carbon emissions by two thousand twenty – and is presently failing to meet EU thresholds on health-damaging pollutants.

Transport here accounts for 30pc of dangerous emissions, with 95pc of those coming from road vehicles.

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According to the report, councils in each area would consult on the details, and newer diesel cars would reportedly be excluded.

A source said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs (Defra) did not recognise’ the figures in the Sunday Times story, but plans will be announced ‘in due course’.

London mayor Sadiq Khan has already announced the most polluting vehicles will have to pay a ‘toxicity charge’ to inject the capital.

It goes after repeated calls for a scrappage scheme to phase out polluting diesel vehicles.

Despite pressure, the budge was not announced in Chancellor Philip Hammond’s Spring Budget last month.

But the puny print did demonstrate ministers are looking at “the adequate tax treatment of diesel vehicles”.

This led to fears of tax hikes for diesel cars in the Autumn Budget.

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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling also signalled a crackdown by warning people should think long and hard before buying a diesel car.

Asked whether motorists should hesitate before buying a diesel, Mr Grayling said: “People should take a long, hard think about what they need, about where they’re going to be driving, and should make best endeavours to buy the least polluting vehicle they can.

“I don’t think diesel is going to vanish but someone who is buying a car to drive around a busy city may think about buying a low-emission vehicle rather than a diesel.”

A Defra source said: “We don’t recognise the figures or these numbers. Our intention is to publish our plans in due course”.

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