The 14 Dutch towns and cities which plan to introduce zero emission zones next year say they will press ahead with the ban on many diesel vehicles, even though the government says it has brokered a compromise.

The 14 cities, which include Amsterdam and The Hague, issued a joint statement on Friday afternoon, saying alteri g the plans would not be fair to companies which have already made the change.

Earlier on Friday junior environment minister Chris Jansen issued a statement saying companies with relatively clean diesel vans would be able to access zero emission zones until 2029, not 2028 as most councils plan. He also said he was talking to councils about a no fine policy in the first year of operation.

In the statement, which was issued by Leiden council, the 14 cities say they do not think it would be fair to companies which have bought new vehicles or have requested an exemption to extend the deadline.

They also say they have been surprised by Jansen, a minister on behalf of the far right PVV. “What the junior minister is demanding is impossible,” they said. “It is impossible because it will hurt a lot of companies but it is also damaging to local authority reliability.”

The issue is a matter for local not national government and the cabinet has no powers to force councils to change their positions.

From January, diesel buses and vans older than 15 years and registered as emissions class 4 will be banned from the centre of cities including Amsterdam, Utrecht and The Hague.

Check which cities and vehicles are affected

But research by motoring organisation RAI suggests 75% of the current diesel buses and vans will be able to use the zero emission zones until January 2027 and large lorries can apply for an exemption up to January 2030.

All the towns and cities introducing the zones are phasing in the changes gradually over the coming few years.