New anti-pollution tolls set to be imposed in Newcastle could be delayed because of coronavirus.
Daily charges of up to £50 for some high-polluting vehicles are due to come into force from January 2021 as part of a new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in the city.
But the massive disruption to everyday life caused by the Covid-19 outbreak could see the toll plans pushed back.
Council leaders in Birmingham and Leeds, where CAZ charges were expected to be introduced this summer, have already written to the government asking for a delay.
There are fears that businesses and individuals who will be hit with the tolls will be unable to prepare while they deal with the fallout of the coronavirus crisis, while local councils and central government are having to prioritise urgent responses to the pandemic.
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “We are aware that other councils that were due to deliver their clean air zones before ours have contacted government to seek a delay in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
“We remain in regular contact with government and expect a further update on the situation next week.
“In the meantime we continue to prioritise our resources towards looking after and supporting our most vulnerable residents while keeping the city’s highways moving for those key workers who need to travel to perform vital roles in response to this health emergency.”
There were already concerns over the Clean Air Zones being delivered on time, due to problems with a malfunctioning government service which allows motorists to check whether or not their vehicle will be affected.
Private cars will be exempt from all charges under the Newcastle CAZ plan, which was submitted to ministers earlier this year.
But buses, coaches, and lorries that do not meet environmental standards would face £50 daily tolls under the plan, while some taxis and vans would be hit with £12.50 fees.
Alongside the CAZ fees, the council will also cut traffic on the Tyne Bridge to one lane in each direction in a bid to deter drivers.
The controversial scheme has been devised in response to a government order to bring down illegal air pollution levels in the shortest possible time.
