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The Aston Expressway could be decorated with walls of creeping ivy under pollution busting plans unveiled today.

Birmingham Conservatives are calling for the use of green walls on major commuter routes throughout the city following research showing the creeping plants cut levels of dangerous nitrous oxide and other harmful pollutants in the atmosphere.

It is part of a wide-ranging set of manifesto pledges to improve Birmingham’s air quality and cut traffic congestion.

A green wall has already been trialled on Bristol Street where researchers found pollution levels fell.

Conservative leader Robert Alden, who has a postgradute diploma in air pollution management, said they will create a green infrastructure network across the city.

(Image: Birmingham Conservatives)

“We will transform Birmingham with green infrastructure like living green walls being installed on canyon locations like parts of the Aston Expressway to help clean the air around our roads. Research shows that they can remove up to 40 per cent of nitrous oxide and 60 per cent of particulate matter from the surrounding air.

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“Our plans include living green walls, urban forests, micro parks and use of new technology like ‘city trees’ which are 13 ft moss covered frames that have the cleaning power of 275 tress.

"Each one can clean 250 grams of particulate matter a day. The size and flexibility of new technology like ‘city trees’ allows their easy placement in key pollution hot spots across the city, including ensuring all our major shopping centres have some additional infrastructure to clean the air and attract shoppers to a cleaner, greener, more pleasant environment."

(Image: Birmingham City Council)

What about a congestion charge?

The Tories’ clean air policy package has been issued two weeks after the council’s ruling Labour cabinet postponed an announcement of its own plans amid fears that proposals to charge high-polluting private cars to enter the city centre could be politically unpopular.

Plans for a Clean Air Zone charge for high polluting commercial lorries, vans and buses are already in the pipeline.

In contrast the Conservatives have completely ruled out any pollution tax or congestion charge for private vehicles.

Cllr Alden said that London’s air has continued to worsen despite the congestion charge introduced 15 years ago. “Scientific research from various universities show that congestion charges do not make any difference to the quality of air, instead they are simply the crutch for tired Labour administrations, lacking the vision to do anything else,” he added.

Why is pollution such a key issue for Birmingham?

(Image: Darren Quinton)

But both parties recognise that more needs to be done with pollution in Birmingham responsible for around 900 premature deaths a year and the threat of a highly costly fine for the council if air quality does not dramatically improve by 2020.

Cllr Alden said: “Air Pollution is linked to heart disease, lung issues, cancer, dementia, still births, organ damage and many more terrible heath issues as well. It is clear something needs to be done to tackle air pollution and give Brummies cleaner air.”

What else are the Conservatives proposing?

The Conservatives say there are national funding pots totalling £500 million from which Birmingham can make bids for support for alternative measures.

They are also lobbying for: