Bristol will launch a clean air zone (CAZ) that charges private cars next summer, after several years of avoidance, delays and missed deadlines.
Bristol City Council said the Government has backed its plans to clean up the city’s air, including a raft of measures to help citizens adapt to the change - although the council has effectively had the Class D CAZ imposed on it, after opposition from Labour mayor Marvin Rees.
The council said the plan, which was due to launch last month, will enable the city to meet clean air targets in 2023 – a reference to legally binding limits on nitrogen dioxide, which mainly comes from road vehicles.
It added that it had been mandated to tackle air pollution and that while Mr Rees is ‘committed to reducing air pollution’, he was ‘also adamant that he would minimise any disproportionate impact on businesses and citizens’.
The council has secured £42m of government cash for ‘greener transport initiatives’, such as electric bike loans, free bus tickets, and upgrades to cleaner vehicles.
In a statement, Bristol noted that ‘71 per cent of vehicles in Bristol are already compliant so won’t have to pay to enter the zone’ but didn't mention specific charges.
In fact, private cars, taxis and LGVs that do not meet emissions standards will pay £9 per day, while non-compliant HGVs, buses and coaches will pay £100. Charges will apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mr Rees described the CAZ as ‘a real win for the city’. He said: ‘We are introducing one of the most wide-ranging clean air zones in the UK which will see us not only reduce air pollution but also help people change how they travel, delivering a cleaner, greener and healthier city for years to come.’
The majority of the funding (£32m) will go to businesses to upgrade HGVs, LGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles.
In addition:
- £5.9m will be spent on helping people switch to public transport and make more journeys by walking or cycling with free bus tickets, free electric bike loans and cycle training
- A £2m freight consolidation project will be set up to help businesses switch to greener ways of transporting goods and meet the council’s target of 95% of all city centre deliveries made by zero-emission vehicles within 10 years
- £2.1m has been allocated to help local bus and coach companies
- £1.8m of loans and grants will be available to help people on low incomes, or those travelling to work/study in the zone, who need to upgrade their vehicles
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