Anger over congestion charge '˜push'

European plans which could push for congestion charges introduced in towns and cities across the UK have come under fire from Fylde Euro MP Paul Nuttall.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Feb 2016, 11:00 BST
Paul NuttallPaul Nuttall
Paul Nuttall

Under guidelines from Brussels, local authorities may be told to introduce congestion charging to enable Europe to achieve its target on climate change.

Mr Nuttall said: “This particular piece of ruling by stealth is already underway as five British cities were recently revealed as set to have clean air zones by 2020 - and that is only the beginning.

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“It is all very well for a Department of Transport spokesman to say the government has ‘no plans’ to extend air quality zones to include private car drivers but we all know that when Brussels says ‘jump’ our lily-livered government just asks how high?”

The recommendation for congestion charges for private cars is included in a guide produced by the European Commission’s Committee of the Regions for local and regional authorities on how to implement its Europe 2020 strategy, which is committed to reducing greenhouse emissions by at least 20 per cent, compared to 1990 levels, by 2020.