The government must change tack and stop penalising the road transport industry over emissions while allowing car owners to get off scot-free, according to the FTA.

The call came after environmental group ClientEarth yesterday (2 November) won its High Court action against the government.

The group had said the government's plans to address emissions did not go far enough. Ultimately the  High Court agreed.

It came after a committee of influential MPs called for the government to show more ambition with its Clean Air Zones scheme, which is intended to improve air quality in cites across England.

FTA’s head of national and regional policy Christopher Snelling said: “No-one questions the need for better air quality in order to improve people’s health but placing an unfair burden on the freight industry isn’t the answer.

“The current Defra plan already sets in place targets in cities across the UK that will cost industry millions and could force small businesses out of their markets. This is especially true for those relying on vans because there simply won’t be enough compliant vehicles [at Euro-6] to satisfy the need.”

The FTA said current air quality proposals already push beyond what many businesses can cope with.

“If faster progress in commercial vehicle fleet renewal and a switch to alternative fuel is to be made, it will have to be on the basis of support from the government,” said Snelling.

“But we can’t just consider commercial vehicles. The regulations Defra is looking at may have to take a broader approach to road transport, not shying away from issues such as the contribution of cars just because it is unpopular with voters.

“We know that, unlike cars, Euro-6 HGVs are meeting their emissions limits. So as newer vehicles populate the fleet, the contribution from lorries will massively reduce anyway. Further regulation of HGVs will only produce a very short blip of emissions reduction at a massive cost to industry, especially small businesses,” he said.

The government now has a week to draw up another plan before returning to court, where a High Court judge could impose a timetable if the new proposals are not deemed sufficient.

Topics