Bus bosses have thrown their weight behind plans to put tolls on three bridges across the River Tyne - warning that the alternative means of cutting air pollution would be "a disaster" and force increased fares for passengers.
Newcastle, Gateshead , and North Tyneside councils are set to impose some form of charge on drivers, after being ordered by the Government to slash dangerous emissions levels by 2021.
Ministers' preferred solution is the creation of a Clean Air Zone (CAZ), in which Tyneside clean air tolls: Council bosses explain why we can't avoid them with daily charges - potentially £12.50 for some cars and £50 for buses and HGVs.
But North East bus chiefs say such a zone would have a disastrous knock-on effect - with the charges causing them to put up fare prices and cancel some routes.
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Ahead of a public consultation on the controversial plans closing on Friday, the North East Bus Operators Association has backed an alternative solution proposed by the councils: a £1.70 toll on the Tyne, Swing, and Redheugh bridges that would affect most vehicles, plus a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) banning buses, lorries and taxis that do not meet environmental standards from Newcastle city centre.
Buses would be exempt from any bridge toll under current plans.
Martijn Gilbert, chair of the association, said: "It would be a disaster if the CAZ option chosen to improve air quality actually led to making buses a less attractive way of getting around.
"We must avoid this at all costs, but we have to do more to improve the environment in our region and that's why we're keen to get behind the more practical and balanced option of the LEZ and bridge tolls from 2023, where we know the bus can be a force for good and our regional economy can continue to thrive."
Any clean air toll would come into force from 2021 and are expected to bring pollution levels on Tyneside within legal limits by 2023.
The association represents Tyne and Wear's bus operators, including Arriva, Go North East, Stagecoach and a number of independents.
They say that adopting the bridge toll option would not result in a fare hike, unlike the CAZ - which would be expected to cover a wide area including the centres of Newcastle and Gateshead, stretching up to Gosforth and also down the Coast Road as far as Wallsend.
Mr Gilbert, who is managing director of Go North East, added: "More people use buses than any other form of public transport and year on year bus operators have continued to invest in the latest generation low emission buses.
"They are the most efficient use of road space, helping to ease congestion with each bus having the potential to take seventy or more cars off the road, have step free access and wheelchair accessibility for all and deliver considerable environmental benefits per passenger journey with a carbon footprint far less than private car use."
The clean air consultation runs until this Friday, May 17 at breathe-cleanair.com.
A council spokesman said: "As part of the air quality consultation, as well as seeking the views of the general public, we have been speaking to a number of organisations and businesses - including bus operators - to get their views.
"We welcome their feedback and this will be taken into account as we develop our final proposals. The consultation closes on Friday and we would urge anyone who has not yet taken part to do so."
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