Calls to scrap clean air zones
Councils accused of overstepping the mark regarding modern classics
‘Once again the honest car owner is being hounded by a council’ PAUL DRAKE, ROVER 216 OWNER
Emissions-based Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are being slowly unveiled across the UK – but not everyone’s happy with their imposition. Oxford, London, Birmingham, Leeds and Sheffield are among those which have dealt with historic vehicle access issues; while the former three make no exemptions for post-1978 (taxliable) cars, Sheffield has concentrated its charging on commercial vehicles instead.
The City of Bath recently completed its public consultation – and its proposals attracted the ire of local classic fan Paul Drake. A £9 daily levy is on the cards for pre-2006 petrol and pre-2015 diesel vehicles entering Bath centre. Paul’s 1997 Rover 216 would be non-compliant.
‘Once again the honest car owner is being hounded by a council who are rushing to conclusions without thinking everything through. This time it is because we have the temerity to drive an “old” car on certain parts of the public highway, even though we already pay far too much in car and fuel tax and receive next-to-nothing in return’, he said.
Bath and North Somerset Council did not confirm whether or not owners of pre-1978 vehicles of historic interest would have to pay the £9 entry charge by the time CCW went to press.
The Alliance of British Drivers (ABD) was similarly scathing of monetised CAZs aimed at bringing down pollution. In a recent statement, its spokesman Nigel Humphries urged British motorists, especially those with modern classics, to adopt a French mentality – or remove those responsible at the ballot box.
He said: ‘ The French government has swiftly reacted to recent riots and scrapped plans to introduce urban tolls or congestion charges. Councils all over Britain are looking at plans to punish and fine those they perceive as “polluters” with no scientific evidence of a problem.’ ] bathnes.gov.uk ] abd.org.uk