Motorists who drive diesel cars are already facing enormous extra bills to drive in towns and cities across the UK.
From April 2019, an ultra low-emission zone will come into force in London forcing some diesel drivers to pay a £24-a-day charge while owners across the UK face a new ”toxin tax” of up to £20-a-day in other built-up areas.
Now powerful environmental lobbyists and MPs have demanded the main road tax system be changed to ensure diesel cars are “removed from our streets” entirely.
They claim the existing road tax thresholds, which were introduced by the Labour government to encourage people to buy diesels with low CO2 emissions – but took no account of other pollutants – be scrapped.
It means that, in addition to paying a huge surcharge to drive in urban areas, millions of diesel drivers would face paying 300-400% or more – or hundreds of pounds each every year – in increased annual road tax.
Caroline Russell AM, Green Party transport spokesperson, said: “The Government’s tax rules for cars make people think dirty diesel engines are environmentally safe when they are not.
“At the moment cars which meet CO2 targets get tax and parking permit discounts – but a lot of these vehicles still emit other harmful particles and chemicals like oxides of nitrogen and nitrogen dioxide, which are bad for our health.
“We need to overhaul vehicle tax so we stop giving discounts for cars which meet CO2 targets but still emit NOx and NO2.”
The Liberal Democrats also ripped in to diesel cars, blasting them as “silent killers” and called for them to be banned.
Jenny Randerson, Liberal Democrat Shadow Transport Secretary, said: “Diesel is a silent killer that must be tackled, the Government needs to stop sitting idly by and set a date for when the sale of new diesel vehicles will be banned completely.
“If we are going to fight climate change and improve air quality which has massive impacts on our health we need to take serious action.
“We need to change the damaging aspects of our lifestyle. Removing diesel cars from our streets is a major step towards a greener future.”
The Department for the Environment has said that councils should consider imposing punitive charges on any diesel sold before September 2015, which is a staggering 10m UK cars.
Ministers were keen on a nationwide diesel scrappage scheme prior to the Spring Budget but it is thought they have now quietly scrapped the idea because – with so many diesels on UK roads – it would be too expensive.
Four separate government departments are looking for ways to curb diesel emissions and there are reports that road tax rates for ordinary diesel cars could be hiked as soon as the autumn budget.
But Charlie Elphicke, the Conservative MP for Dover & Deal, who heads up the all-party parliamentary group for fair fuel, is furious.
He said: “It’s wrong to demonise diesel drivers.
“Pollution must be tackled — yet diesel cars account for just 10 per cent of emissions.
“Many drivers feel they were encouraged to buy diesel by the last Labour government.”
Both the Greens and the Liberal Democrats are now calling for the introduction of a diesel scrappage scheme which would give drivers an incentive to buy a cleaner model.
Ms Russell added: “If we really want people to leave their dirty diesel cars behind we urgently need a proper scrappage scheme which helps businesses swap diesel for cleaner vehicles, while people giving up domestic cars should have access to efficient public transport, car clubs and streets that enable safe walking and cycling.
“We are facing an air pollution health emergency and the Government’s failure to invest in alternatives to driving is shameful. We need affordable public transport which people can rely on, as well as safe cycling and walking networks in our towns, cities and villages.
“If we make these investments the result will not only be cleaner air but neighbourhoods built around people, not cars, and an active, healthy population.”
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