The city of Rome is planning to ban buses and coaches from its city centre to cut traffic congestion and improve air quality.

Linda Meleo, Rome’s councillor for transport, made the proposals at a recent city transport committee meeting.

Under the plans, from January 2018 buses and coaches will be charged higher fees to enter the city and will not be allowed at all to enter the centre – a move that will effectively stop tourist buses from operating in the Rome’s historic area.