CAR-FREE days could be introduced in Southampton in an attempt to tackle the city’s air pollution.

Areas of the city centre could be closed to cars on Sundays and plans could be implemented as early as September this year, the Local Democracy Reporting Service can reveal.

Representatives of  Clean Air Southampton and  Southampton Friends of the Earth said they asked Southampton City Council (SCC) to look into the possibility of having car-free days and discussions are ongoing.

But last night civic chiefs refused to confirm whether the plans are still being considered or have been dismissed and the authority did not provide a comment.

In the meantime, Clean Air Southampton and  Southampton Friends of the Earth are asking political parties to pledge to establish one car-free Sunday a month in the city centre, by signing the Clean Air Southampton manifesto ahead of the elections.

According to the manifesto, car-free days have already been accepted as an idea by SCC and preliminary discussions and planning have started.

Lyn Brayshaw, Southampton Friends of the Earth co-ordinator, said she decided to email city councillors in September to suggest the idea.

She said she had then met council officers and hopes to have an answer by next month as the plans are currently being considered by city bosses.

“If Southampton wants to be seen as a city that is doing something about clean air it needs to be in a list of cities that are doing the car-free days. We need to be known as a green city,” she said.

Liz Batten, from Clean Air Southampton, said the initiative has proved successful in other cities.

She added: “They have been measuring what happens to trade and it boosts trade. Every single city that has done it had an increase in footfall.”

Go! Southampton, the city’s BID (Business Improvement District) also welcomed the idea and in a statement said: “We think it will bring lots of people out – on foot and on their bikes – to enjoy all the excellent things the city centre has to offer.”

Clean Air Southampton said the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party will be signing the manifesto on Thursday and Friday respectively.

Cllr Fitzhenry, leader of the Conservative group in the city, said the Tories will not, because they can’t commit to all the manifesto requirements and added that car-free days could be a good idea but it needs to be worked with residents and businesses before it is introduced.

Cllr Steve Leggett,  cabinet member for Green City at SCC, said the Labour party will not be signing the Clean Air Southampton manifesto but refused to say whether the council is still considering plans for the car-free days.

He said instead that the authority has presented its long term transport plan until 2040.

Among the ideas listed in the draft there are Active Travel Zones.

The document reads: “These zones will seek to encourage people to walk and cycle for short trips, providing a wider range of clean and green travel options and introducing measures that help to discourage traffic.”