ANOTHER Black Country council has announced it has no intention of setting up a clean air zone after it was suggested the controversial scheme should be extended to cover the West Midlands.

Dudley has joined its neighbour, Sandwell, in putting the brakes on an idea put forward by the Conservative think-tank, Bright Blue, to charge drivers of older petrol and diesel vehicles up to £10 to enter a designated area.

Bright Blue says Birmingham’s clean air zone could be extended to “all relevant parts of the West Midlands Combined Authority”, including the Black Country, Coventry and Solihull.

Eamonn Ives, a researcher for the group, said: “Air pollution is a major danger to the health of individuals in the West Midlands. The evidence suggests those living in the West Midlands experience higher levels of air pollution and worse consequences from it.”

But the idea was quickly rejected by Sandwell Council, which has now been joined by Dudley who say they too have no plans to follow Birmingham down the same road.

Cllr Cathy Bayton, Dudley's cabinet member for health and wellbeing speaking for the authority, said: “We recognise the challenges facing Birmingham City Council in terms of air quality.

"While we have no plans to consider a charging policy for a clean air zone, we are very keen to continue working closely with the authority and other neighbouring authorities to understand what impact any potential clean air zone in the city might have.”

Birmingham’s Labour council proposed the scheme after it had been ordered to cut air pollution by the Government, although Conservative councillors on the authority have argued charging motorists is not the way to do it.

The scheme will come into effect in January 2020, charging a levy of between £6 and £10 per day on car drivers travelling into a planned clean air zone and up to £100 per day for HGVs and similar vehicles.