Thousands of drivers face a new £50 fee from TODAY due to a major rule change – don’t be surprised

THOUSANDS drivers have been warned they will have to pay a new £50 fee from today as part of a major rule change.

Drivers of non-compliant diesel vehicles have to pay between £12.50 and £50 each day when entering a major UK city.

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Drivers of the most polluting lorries, buses and taxis will now be charged to enter Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone.

Taxi drivers and private hire car drivers will be charged £12.50 per day if their vehicle does not meet emissions standards.

And owners of buses, coaches and lorries that don’t meet emissions standards will have to pay £50 a day to use their vehicles in the clean air zone.

The CAZ covers Newcastle city center and routes across the Tyne, Swing, Redheugh and High-Level bridges.

In order to meet the emission standards, vehicles must have a Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol engine.

These are diesel vehicles registered after September 2015 and petrol vehicles registered after 2005.

However, there are no charges for vehicles that comply with national emission standards.

Newcastle City Council said it must act to reduce “illegal air pollution from traffic”.

That’s what Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp said BBC: “The central government says we have to impose a CAZ and we are taking action against the most polluting vehicles.

“Private cars are exempt, but taxi drivers, lorries and buses could be subject to charges.

“It’s not about stopping people from coming into the city.

“It’s really about stopping unnecessary driving through the city center and making sure we have better public service vehicles.”

Mr Kemp believes the introduction of fines will have an impact on air quality and improve “quality of life for residents and visitors”.