Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils have submitted to government revised options to tackle pollution in the region, which scales back a wider Clean Air Zone (CAZ) after a public consultation revealed little enthusiasm for the plans.

The councils say they have reviewed the area covered by the Clean Air Zone because the ‘vast majority’ of people who commented on it said they thought it was too big and would lead to re-routing of traffic through residential areas. Businesses also criticised the plans, with one saying the CAZ could be a “zone of doom” for businesses in the area.

However, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) says that the new plans will still punish local businesses in the area and will be of little value.   Margaret Simpson, Head of Policy for Scotland & Northern England at FTA said that CAZs have little effect as by the time the scheme comes into operation around half the HGV fleets will be Euro 6 anyway. “In the view of FTA, to secure long-term air quality improvements Newcastle City Council would be better placed to focus its resources on incentivising the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles,” she said.