Labour and the Green Party say there are no plans to introduce an ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) in the city centre - despite claims in Tory election leaflets.
Worcester Conservatives have included claims about a proposed ULEZ - similar to those implemented in London and Birmingham - in campaign materials.
And on the party's website it asks people to support its campaign to stop such a scheme being introduced in Worcester.
But both Labour and the Greens, who have shared power in the city council for the past 12 months, say no such plan has been put forward - and would not be supported if it were.
Lynn Denham, leader of Worcester Labour Group, said: “Let's be clear, there is no plan to implement a ULEZ in Worcester, from any party.
“Instead of offering a manifesto of policies and ideas, the Tories are selling people a pack of lies.
“The Conservatives are spreading misinformation in the desperate hope that after 14 years of failure in government, crashing the economy and selling off the NHS piece by piece, they can bamboozle voters to vote for them once again. I am calling on the public to reject this tapestry of lies at the ballot box.
“Labour listens to residents and we have practical plans for Worcester's future. This year voters have the chance to send a clear message - we need change, we need a fresh start and to rebuild. I urge everyone to vote and to vote Labour.”
A Green Party spokesman said: “The Green Party local manifesto is published on our website at worcester.greenparty.org.uk/manifesto/ and does not contain any proposals to introduce or campaign for a ULEZ scheme in Worcester.
“The city council does not have the power to introduce a ULEZ scheme.
“Worcester Conservatives have not published a manifesto for these elections; voters simply do not know what they are getting when they vote Conservative.
“Green voters across the city know exactly what they will get: year round hard work from councillors, not just at election time, backed up by a clear manifesto.”
Conservative county councillor and parliamentary candidate Marc Bayliss said: “Labour and the Greens have very anti-motorist policies shown not just in their words but in their deeds over the last few years.
“We’ve already seen Labour introduce ULEZs in Birmingham and London, but they won’t come out and say it because they know how unpopular these schemes are.
“They are dressed up as air quality concerns but Safer Streets, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods - they are all anti-motorist and ULEZ is exactly the same.”
Mr Bayliss said electric vehicles are “a big part of the answer”, adding: “diesel and petrol cars are much less polluting than they were in the 80s and 90s.
“I believe in modal choice - I support all modes of transport, and that includes cars as well as the others.”
What is an ULEZ?
Ultra Low emissions zones (ULEZ) are areas of a city where a standard-based charge is applied to non-compliant road vehicles.
Birmingham has an ULEZ - known in the Second City as a Clean Air Zone - along with London, Bristol and Oxford.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel