Smog on the tyne
TOLLS to cross the Tne Bridge may be imposed in a bid to impreove air quality on the bottle neck.
Almost a year after the region was threatened with an air quality tax, the risk of a Tyne Bridge toll is still looming large, councillors say.
Last year Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils were warned by Defra pollution levels were too high at particular blackspots, and they needed to be brought down or risk being given a Clean Air Zone notice.
If branded a Clean Air Zone, areas are required to install measures which could include charges for diesel vehicles, HGVs, buses and even some petrol vehicles.
There are fears the three North East councils aren’t working quickly enough to tackle the issue and the problem pollution zones could end up being hit with a toxin tax.
Lib Dem Newcastle City Councillor Greg Stone said the areas came within ‘a whisker’ of being one of the five forced to act.
He said: “This is an ongoing problem, it is a live issue and it is one where difficult decisions will have to be made.
“It is a long time coming and I am still not aware of what the proposals are other than to fund some environmentally-friendly buses.”
He added: “This is something that a regional Mayor would be able to tackle, if we had a proper devolution deal, however how much joined up working will be done if two of the councils are in the North of Tyne devolution deal and Gateshead isn’t?”
This comes after Gateshead Council Leader Martin Gannon called on the Government to help tackle the problem.
He accused the Government of being ‘guilty of negligence’ over air quality at a meeting on Tuesday and said it was unfair for ‘incompetent’ ministers to pass the responsibility for bringing down excessive pollution levels on Tyneside to the cash-strapped local authorities.
This is despite the government putting up £225m for councils to bid for to put their ideas to tackle the problems into action.
Gateshead Council’s Lib Dem opposition leader said it was ‘typical’ of Coun Gannon to look to blame the problem on the Government.
He said: “This is one of those things that needs careful considerations and from what I recall not a lot has been done yet.”
Currently the most polluted roads in the region are the stretch of the A167, between the Tyne Bridge and the Swan House roundabout, stretches of the A1 past Swalwell, Whickham and Blaydon and the Coast Road near Wallsend in North Tyneside. Councils have insisted they are working together to tackle the problem, with regular meetings to discuss proposals.
Coun Arlene Ainsley, cabinet member for transport and air quality at Newcastle City Council, said: “We are continuing to develop our Local Air Quality Plan together with our neighbouring councils in Gateshead and North Tyneside. This is due to be completed and submitted to Government by the end of this year.”