Ministers reverse pledge to endorse clean air campaign

The Government was yesterday accused of "running scared'' from the powerful motoring lobby after a minister pulled out of a public appearance to support a clean air initiative.

The Department of Transport had promised the "Don't Choke Britain Campaign'' that it would receive ministerial backing when it launched its campaign tomorrow, but the decision has been reversed.

Supporters of the campaign, which urges motorists to use their cars less, point out that the Department of Transport, Highways Agency and even the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders have all signed up to the initiative.

Roger Higman, of Friends of the Earth, described the Government's decision as "pathetic''. He said that being anti-pollution was not the same as being anti-car.

"If ministers can't come out to support local council initiatives to raise awareness about pollution, their commitment to the environment and public health must clearly be in question, Mr Higman said. "They are running scared from the motoring lobby and can't even be seen to be against pollution.''

Sally Keeble, a Local Government minister, withdrew from the launch after Stephen Byers, before his resignation as Transport Secretary, announced a thorough review of the Government's 10-year transport plan, arguing that measures to discourage the use of cars should not come ahead of policies which made public transport more efficient.

Campaigners had hoped that the new Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, would reinstate the ministerial visit, given indications that he supports the introduction of tolls to discourage congestion.

Mr Darling has told his senior officials that his fresh look at the plan may not be finished until the autumn and that he had no intention of introducing major changes to the strategy.

Neil Scales, chairman of the campaign, pointed out that thousands of people die prematurely from air pollution.

Researchers from Nottingham University had found that living near a busy road increased a child's risk of developing asthma by between eight and 16 per cent, he said.

Mr Scales, who is also a chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: "Sometimes the car is the best or only option, but there are often healthier alternatives, especially for shorter journeys.

"If people could start by cutting out just one journey in 10, it would make a real difference to our health and air quality.''