COUNCILLORS in Essex are stepping up their actions to create cleaner air quality following Michael Gove's announced plan to ban all petrol and diesel cars from the country's roads by 2040.

Mr Mark Flewitt, Executive Councillor for Sustainability at Southend Borough Council is confident that the new plan will from the Environment Secretary will encourage any methods of combat air quality management to be accelerated.

The councillor was also critical of how information on emissions of vehicles have been reported to the public.

He said: "One government said you can have diesel but another is saying no to it now. Scientists are now saying it is not safe to have at all now."

Mr Flewitt added that as Southend has built up in its recent history a price has been paid for its environmental health.

"The more we thrive in this area there is an opportunity cost involved."

According to Next Green Car, only 14 electric charging points for vehicles are stationed in the Basildon, Southend and Canvey areas.

This issue Mr Flewitt thinks this can be dealt with as new housing developments are built across the next 23 years.

He said: "It is an immediate challenge to take on. This is about when properties are built, there is to be a charging area built into the properties' gardens in future."

Mr Simon Walsh, Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste for Essex County Council has said that the council does not have the influence on planning applications for the same to be achieved.

However, he has encouraged local residents to consider building up their own supplies of renewable energy, and that they can own their own charging point for £120.

Mr Walsh also said: "I suppose the issue is about having sufficient lead time for the motoring industry to make it all more accessible. I think there will be a development in technology which will first be focused to public transport vehicles like buses."

Mr Walsh is expectant that before a mass development of technology for normal road cars, public transport will have to made more green for future generations the plan affects.

He continued: "About 40,000 people die due to pollution and that needs to be address by improving public health by decreasing pollution in the environment across the county."