The Government spent £365,000 trying unsuccessfully to fight legal claims that its plan to tackle dangerous levels of air pollution was insufficient, a freedom of information request from The Independent has revealed.
The cases relate to two claims brought against the Government by environmental action group ClientEarth, which successfully argued the UK was breaking EU laws by not reducing toxic diesel fumes in the "shortest time possible".
A report in the Lancet last week said pollution killed 50,000 people in the UK in 2015, and the toxicity of Britain's air was declared a "public health emergency" by MPs in 2016.
After a long delay, ministers were forced to publish a new plan, which was dismissed as "weak" and "woefully inadequate" by critics. ClientEarth this month demanded Environmental Secretary Michael Gove set out a range of new measures to address the air pollution problem.
The environmental campaigners are set to issue new proceedings, likely to lead to a third judicial review.
The extended legal battle cost the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs £278,476 in defence fees, a response to a freedom of information request by The Independent showed. It spent a further £86,000 on payouts to ClientEarth after it lost both cases.
ClientEarth lawyer Alan Andrews, said: "The Government's insistence on fighting us in court, rather than cleaning up our air, is baffling.
"The plans produced in response to two court orders shows a similar reluctance to get a grip. The Government has an opportunity to lead on air pollution but so far, all we've seen is inaction and delay.
He continued, saying the amount ClientEarth recovered was "a small fraction" of the costs they incurred by bringing the legal challenge. He added the cases were "brought in the public interest over the course of seven years to uphold the right to breathe clean air".
The revelations about the cost to the taxpayer of the legal battle came on the day that a new "toxin charge" came into force, which charges drivers of the most polluting vehicles to pay £10 a day to enter central London.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This is the time to stand up and join the battle to clear the toxic air we are forced to breathe. But I can’t do this alone. I urgently need Government to step up and face their responsibilities by delivering a diesel scrappage fund and a Cleaner Air Act that is fit for purpose.”
Caroline Lucas, co-leader of the Green Party, said: "It's astonishing that the Government has spent thousands of pounds of taxpayers money defending the indefensible.
"Rather than battling air pollution action in the courts. ministers should be doing more to tackle this public health emergency. The Government is guilty of ignoring this crisis for too long, and it's time they show some leadership with a new Clean Air Act fit for the 21st century and clean air zones in our towns and cities."
A Defra spokesperson said: “We have put in place a £3 billion plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions.
"We will also end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2040, and next year we will publish a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy which will set out further steps to tackle air pollution.
“We now have an opportunity to deliver a Green Brexit and improve environmental standards as we leave the EU."
