𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Labour’s war on motorists “knows no limit”, it is claimed, as the Government doubles the fee levied on local authorities for processing each clean air zone payment. The per-payment fee will jump from £2 to £4, fuelling fears the hike in costs will be passed on to drivers at a time when the conflict in Iran has pushed up fuel prices.

The scheme, which allows local authorities to hit owners of more-polluting vehicles with a charge for driving in a designated area, is also being extended for four years to at least 2031. The Government admits the fee “exceeds the prevailing rate of inflation”.

The regulations come into force on September 1, 2026.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden said: “Labour have doubled fees, extended a scheme it admits may never end, and then had the gall to claim none of this harms drivers and small businesses. Drivers face massive running costs as it stands, particularly in midst of the war in Iran, so it is completely nonsensical for Labour to make life worse by increasing fees. The Conservatives oppose this crazy policy and will hold Labour to account for every pound they grab and every year this drags on.”

In Bristol, drivers of cars which do not meet the clean air standard must pay a £9 charge. In Birmingham, it is £8, with vehicle owners who do not pay it on time facing a penalty charge of £120. Birmingham City Council has paid more than £472,000 in charges and fines incurred by its own vehicles since the scheme began in 2021.

Brian Macdowall of the Alliance British Drivers described clean air zones as “a complete misnomer”.

He said: “If your vehicle passes an MOT test, including an emissions test, its roadworthy to drive on UK roads. There is no justification for any such zones; a modern Ford Focus for example, is considerably cleaner than a 1970s Ford Escort. Raising the admin fee government charges councils for operating clean air zones means only one thing; councils will increase the fines levels on drivers of so called non-compliant cars.”

A host of other cities charge exempt private cars but levy charges on drivers of vans, taxis and minibuses.

Luke Bosdet of the AA said that businesses who could not afford to replace vehicles “added the charges to their customer’s invoices” so the “fees were passed straight on to the consumer and helped to pump up local inflation”.

Callum McGoldrick of the TaxPayers’ Alliance condemned the hike in charges, saying: “Taxpayers will be appalled that clean air zone processing fees are being doubled above inflation while ministers quietly extend the scheme for years longer. These charges will ultimately feed through to drivers and businesses already hammered by high costs, higher taxes and endless anti-car policies. Ministers should scrap this above-inflation hike and stop treating motorists and small firms as cash cows for every green charging scheme going.”

A Tory spokesperson said: “Labour’s war on drivers knows no limit. The Conservatives reject that entirely, as we know that for millions of families, driving is how they get to work, take their children to school, and keep their lives running.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Over the last four years, the Clean Air Zone digital service has been heavily subsidised by all taxpayers, but we are now taking steps to move towards full cost recovery so we can continue supporting cleaner air in our towns and cities. Changing the transaction fee for local authorities should not lead to higher costs for drivers.

“We will continue working closely with councils to understand any impacts and provide support where needed.”