A FIVE-YEAR plan to slash vehicle emissions and make Winchester greener has moved closer.

However some city councillors say that the only way to make Winchester meet emissions targets is to do more to deter vehicles from entering the city centre.

The Air Quality Action Plan, was approved by Winchester City Council’s cabinet last Wednesday.

Currently, the levels of nitrogen dioxide on major roads in Winchester is high, and must be reduced by a quarter. Bad air is being linked to hastening the deaths of dozens of local people each year.

The plan proposes several measures to improve air quality including higher parking charges in the city centre to encourage people to use park and ride and introducing restrictions on delivery vehicles, and building a park and ride in the north of Winchester to mitigate the impact of the 2,000-home Barton Farm development.

Other parts of the plan include parking charges to limit diesel and high polluting petrol cars in the centre, reducing emissions from lorries, buses and council vehicles by 2020.

Lib Dem councillor Liz Hutchison said: “The only way to make a really significant impact is to cut the number of vehicles accessing the city centre; if we do not do this we will not make much impact. If we want to have an impact we have to address these issues.”

Portfolio holder for environment, Jan Warwick introduced the plan by saying: “Air quality has been in the news in recent months. Last November the High Court circulated that the government should reduce emissions in the shortest amount of time.

“Here in Winchester we have a designated Air Quality Management Area in the centre of town to tackle hotspot areas like Romsey Road, Chesil Street and St George’s Street.”

She said the council has consulted various groups including Winchester Action on Climate Change (WinACC).

It comes as traffic is likely to increase as a result of the Winchester District Local Plan, which will mean 4,000 new homes in the city and a further 12,000 new homes across the district.

Currently Hampshire County Council are working with the city council to develop a new transport strategy, which could mean major changes to the road system.

The plan is set to be sent to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for approval.

Council leader Caroline Horrill said: “This is a very substantial document it is really important. There have been conversations it should be more than it is, but to get to where it is now is a great achievement.”