Cars for coupons: Would you scrap your car for a public transport voucher to help reduce emissions?

Motorists in Wales could be offered the chance to scrap older cars in exchange for public transport vouchers in an attempt to cut congestion and improve air quality.

It is one of the proposals put forward by the Urban Mobility Partnership, where people would be offered mobility credits for use on trains, buses, car clubs and bike hire.

It comes just days after Wales declared a 'climate emergency' and was warned greenhouse gases need to be cut by 95% by 2050 to help tackle global warming.

The introduction of rental bikes NextBike in Cardiff was its most successful UK launch Credit: NextBike

  • How would it work?

When a person scraps their car, they would receive mobility credits in excess of the market value for use on a range of clean and efficient modes of transport.

The credits would be in the form of Netflix-style application that can be used for journeys using trains, buses, car clubs and bike hire. This idea is being trailed in Manchester.

Transport bosses in Wales will brief ministers and government officials on Thursday to discuss the proposal.

The average age of petrol cars on UK roads is said to be more than nine years old and more than six years old for diesel cars.

Extinction Rebellion activists locked themselves to a fence outside Westminster in London to raise awareness of climate change Credit: PA Images
Designer Vivienne Westwood speaking in London at an Extinction Rebellion protest Credit: PA Images

Mari Arthur, Director of Cynnal Cymru who is chairing the meeting said, "The Extinction Rebellion protests have prompted a lot of discussion about environmental issues in recent weeks and prompted the Welsh Government to declare a 'Climate Emergency'.

"Wales has long led the way on sustainability. Now is a chance to create viable alternatives to private car ownership, and encourage people to scrap their older, polluting cars and get them into more efficient vehicles and modes of transport."

Wales has been warned to cut its greenhouse gases by 95% by 2050 Credit: PA Images

Air pollution contributes to around 2,000 deaths per year in Wales.

A Welsh Assembly report published in 2018 said Wales has some of the worst air quality in the UK and has been described as an "urgent public health crisis - second only to smoking".

Cardiff and Port Talbot both have higher particulate matter levels than Birmingham or Manchester and a road in Caerphilly is the most polluted outside of London.