On-the-spot smoke fines
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• Local authorities are to be given extra powers to crack down on trucks causing excessive air pollution.
Measures they are likely to adopt under the Environment Act, which became law last week, include vehicle emission checks with on-the-spot fines for offenders.
But the powers will only be granted in areas that fail national and European health limits for air pollutants. Any curbs that a council plans to introduce will have to be approved the Environment Secretary.
A national strategy for air quality is to be published at the end of the year, following consultation with councils about the sort of powers they will need to reduce outbreaks of high pollution.
Sydney Balgarnie, spokesman for the Road Haulage Association, says: "The only problem we had with this legislation was the power to stop vehicles had to remain with the police and this has been conceded by the Government."