Work on clean air zone to be reviewed

WORK carried out so far on bringing clean air to Bath is to be reviewed.

Bath and North East Somerset Council says the analysis is part of final preparations ahead of a bid to government for a multi-million pound package of investment on a clean air zone.

Council leader Cllr Dine Romero said the evaluation of work to date would ensure there were no missed opportunities ahead of the introduction of the zone by 2021. She confirmed that cars would not be charged to enter it.

She said: “We are on track for a consultation early in the autumn on the draft charging order, which will form the legal basis for enforcing the zone when it is launched by 2021.

“We will also be talking to people about a substantial package of financial and practical support for businesses and communities affected by the charge, which includes £35 million for interest free loans and grants to help businesses upgrade non-compliant vehicles and to install electric charging points.

“However, before we finalise these we are taking a look at all the work that has been done to date to make sure we have a scheme that not only delivers clean air and improves health outcomes but also addresses Bath city centre transport issues.”

In March, B&NES Council agreed a class C charging clean air zone.

Private cars will be exempt from paying to drive in the zone but taxis, private hire vehicles, minibuses and vans that do not meet minimum standards will pay £9 per day.

High polluting buses, coaches and HGVs will have to pay £100 if they travel into the city centre.

The council says there is also an ambitious package of other measures, which will see significant changes to both the way traffic is managed as well as the support people are offered to travel around the city.

This includes changes to park and ride concessions, additional charging points for electric vans and taxis, and low-emission, last-mile delivery plans to help businesses bring their goods into the city centre.

Councillor Sarah Warren, cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Neighbourhood Services added: “We have wider ambitions for Bath and North

East Somerset to be an exemplar for addressing air quality and tackling the climate emergency.

“The clean air zone is an important next step towards achieving this and a cleaner, greener, healthier community, and every penny raised from charges will go back into improving local transport.”