CAZ pledge
Clean air zone to go ahead as pollution returns to city
Bath’s clean air zone is set to be the first to launch outside London after delays and rethinks in other cities.
A start date is yet to be decided after it was pushed back from November but it is likely to be early next year. Other cities have scrapped their clean air zone proposals in favour of other measures, or put their plans on hold because of the pandemic, but Bath and North East Somerset Council is pressing ahead.
Updating scrutiny panel members on September 21, transport manager Chris Major said: “Air quality is a massive health risk for residents of Bath and North East Somerset. It has whole-life impacts.
“The impact of Covid and link to air quality are becoming more and more clear.
“We were due to go live with the clean air zone in November. Due to Covid that’s been delayed. We’re looking for a date in the early part of next year.
“Traffic levels fell by 70 per cent in the lockdown. They’re now 10 per cent below where we expect to be. Nitrogen dioxide levels are back up to where they were.
“Government are still committed for us to deliver this scheme as soon as possible. We’re likely to be the first in the country to launch.”
In Bristol the council proposed a ban on privately owned diesel cars in a small part of the city centre and a wider clean air zone which older, polluting vehicles would have to pay to enter. But Mayor Marvin Rees said it may not need to impose charges because of the changes in lifestyle, work and travel patterns brought about by the pandemic.
Bristol’s clean air zone must be in place by March. The proposed charges will mirror Bath’s - £9 a day for non-compliant taxis and vans, and £100 per day for HGVS, buses and coaches.
Leeds’ zone was due to launch in January this year but was pushed back to March and has now been put on hold for the foreseeable future due to air quality improvements during the lockdown.
A £6 million camera network has already been installed across the city. It was set to charge drivers of non-compliant HGVS, buses, taxis and private hire vehicles up to £50 a day.
Birmingham’s clean air zone will not start charging until the summer of 2021. It was delayed by issues with the Government’s vehicle checker and then in March the council appealed for more time so it could deal with the pandemic.
When it is introduced, it will be the only city outside London to charge polluting drivers of private cars. They will have to pay £8 a day, while buses and lorries will face a daily charge of £50 to enter the city centre.
Derby, Nottingham, Southampton and Cardiff have scrapped their clean air zone plans. They claim they can cut nitrogen dioxide levels through traffic management and by making public transport cleaner.
Other areas are still consulting.