Charges revealed for clean air zone
£9 for higher emission cars Revised map shows to which streets charge would apply
Drivers of older cars and vans could be charged £9 to enter the centre of Bath from the end of 2020.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has set out its plans for a clean air zone - revealing which city centre streets will be included and how much motorists will have to pay to enter.
It has also given details of which vehicles will be liable for the charge - which is expected to raise up to £12million a year in 2021.
The council released detailed plans for the zone on Tuesday and is running a consultation until November 26.
The results will be considered by cabinet members on December 18.
In addition to the £9 charge for higher emission, non-compliant cars, taxis and Lgvs/vans, there will be a charge of £100 for higher emission, non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVS.
Charges would apply once in every 24-hour period (midnight to midnight) when entering or driving in the zone. This would apply 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
If your vehicle is parked in the zone and does not move, you would not pay the charge.
Drivers of non-compliant vehicles will be required to voluntarily pay using an online system.
Vehicles which would incur the charge are diesel engines which don’t meet Euro 6 standards, roughly those build before 2015, and petrol engines which don’t meet the Euro 4 standard, roughly those made before 2006.
Newer vehicles and fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will not be charged.
A revised map of the clean air zone has been released by the council which it says it has been amended to take account of residents’ views, and has been carefully drawn to reduce opportunities for short cuts.
Income from charges is estimated to reach £12million in 2021. The money will be used to repay a loan to set up the clean air zone and improve green infrastructure such as extending the hours of the park and ride, improved cycle parking and more electric vehicle charging points.
The council says the proposed charges are not designed to make the required air quality and health improvements by 2021.
B&NES Council has been ordered by the government to improve air quality in the city as quickly as possible, and by 2021 at the latest. It will be fined if it does not comply.
The legal limit for nitrogen dioxide is 40 microgrammes per cubic metre but in some areas, such as London Road and Lower Bristol Road, that figure is as high as 68.
The council said it considered only charging selected higher-- vehicles to enter the clean air zone needed everything from cars to coaches included in order to hit the target.
It is expected to cost £12million to set up the network of automatic number plate recognition cameras to monitor vehicles.
The council says its assessments show that the majority of roads outside of the zone would not see an increase in traffic, but would see an in improvement in air quality.
It has also been consulting with bus and HGV companies and is looking at whether there is Government funding to bring them up to standard.
Taxi drivers have voiced concerns about how quickly the clean air zone is being implemented, because many have contracts of up to five years on their cars.
A “sunset period” means they will not have to comply until 2022.
Council leader Tim Warren said it is a “once in a lifetime” chance to improve the air quality in the city.
He said: “I would be disappointed if the other parties didn’t support improving the air quality.
“This should have been done back in Roman times. This is the first time we’ve been able to access Government funding.
“It’s about having the support and the money to do it. It needs to be done.”
The council is staging drop-in events: Wednesday October 24, Aix en Provence Guildhall, Bath 4-8pm; Saturday October 27, Keynsham Community Space 10am-2pm; Wednesday October 31, Brunswick, Guildhall, Bath 4-8pm. More are planned in November, go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/bath-breathes-2021-overview/events for details.