Emissions-based charges plan for city's drivers

Charges based on vehicle emissions could be introduced for motorists in Plymouth under council plans.

Plymouth City Council said its latest climate strategy, known as the Net Zero Action Plan (NZAP), is set to be reviewed by the authority's Natural Infrastructure and Growth scrutiny panel on Wednesday.

It said a number of new initiatives have been added to the plan including "exploring the feasibility, potential role and benefits of emissions-based vehicle charging tariffs".

Following the scrutiny meeting, the latest version of NZAP - which covers a three-year period - is due to be voted on at a full council meeting on 17 March.

The council said other new NZAP initiatives included an externally-funded £400m network connecting major buildings with a central heating source.

Council bosses have not given any details about how the emission-based charges would work or how much they would be.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, cabinet member for the environment and climate change, said the latest version of the NZAP would hopefully help the city make "great strides" towards hitting its net zero ambitions.

He added: "I do understand that for some people, parts of this plan may seem ambitious but ambitious is what we must be if we are to ensure the environmental sustainability of our city and planet."

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