Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell Roig

Bristol Clean Air Zone 'may be the last thing we need', says business owner

Old Market Street will soon be part of Bristol's new Clean Air Zone, falling right on the edge of the boundary. Nearby roads such as West Street will be outside of the zone.

And, reflecting the views being heard across the city, business owners along Old Market Street have expressed different views about the scheme. While some welcome the CAZ and believe it will not impact them, some are worried about increasing delivery costs or a drop in customers.

The scheme will be launching on November 28 - over a year late. Bristol City Council is legally required to introduce measures to cut harmful air pollution from vehicles driving in the city centre.

Read next: The street split in half by the Clean Air Zone

Imran Mohammad, of The Local on Old Market Street, said the CAZ will definitely impact them as they have vans and deliveries who will get charged every day. However, at the moment they are still unsure of how much exactly they will be charged.

Mr Mohammad said that, on a personal level, his vehicle won't be charged, adding that the majority of their customers walk to the shop. "Everything is going up in price right now and this may be the last thing we need, it is something else to have to worry about," he said. "I do support the scheme because the traffic here is ridiculous, but it will definitely impact us."

On the other hand, Adeola Folarin, the owner of Deocraft Cakes on Old Market Street, said she has decided to accept the scheme as she feels there is nothing she can do about it. Ms Folarin said she gets some deliveries to the shop but that none of them have mentioned the CAZ yet.

However, she said she is sure some of her customers will be impacted by it as some do not have new cars. Her customers come from all over the city and even outside Bristol, she added, but it is too early to know the level of impact.

Clean Air Zone signs in Bristol. Pictured is a sign on Old Market Street (Daisy Media LTD/BristolLive)

"Most of our customers drive here and it is going to affect them," said the business owner. "If I tell them there is 30 minutes free parking outside the shop, it does help and I worry it [the CAZ] is going to put off customers.

"I have not told customers about it yet but I will have to start warning them soon. It is going affect our business.

"Some may choose to go elsewhere or they may ask if we can deliver."

Irina Gurjeva, manager at Mexican restaurant Chido Wey, said she had not heard about the scheme and that no one had been in to make them aware of it. She said their customers do not drive to the restaurant as there is nowhere to park nearby, but that the cars they see around the area tend to be pretty new anyway.

Ms Gurjeva said they have not been told anything about it by their delivery companies, but that they worry the cost of the CAZ would be passed on to them.

Irina Gurjeva, manager at Mexican restaurant Chido Wey (Daisy Media LTD/BristolLive)

"We may get charged more for deliveries at a time we already have seen a rise in costs," she added. "This may mean we would have to increase prices [for customers] as well."

"The traffic here is fine, it is just normal Bristol traffic," she continued. "We do not see many traffic jams.

"It is mainly just buses but that is handy for us as staff and for customers as well."

Matt Otridge, of music venue Exchange, said that some of the smaller bands may struggle with the CAZ, but that they could always park round the back and avoid the scheme.

"We are fairly environmentally conscious here so we welcome it," added Mr Otridge. "A Bath business owner was telling me how it had made no difference to traffic, his view was that it was the same and just as busy."

Clean Air Zone signs in Bristol. Pictured is a sign on Old Market Street (Daisy Media LTD/BristolLive)

Mr Otridge said they have deliveries, but that they are from big companies with newer vans that wouldn't be charged. His hope is that it will make a difference or that, at least, it won't make things worse.

"The majority of people who come here do not come in cars," he said. "We have great public transport links so most people come here by public transport or walk if they are looking at having a drink.

"And, where our customers would park, it is not in the CAZ area anyway."

Paul Horlick, also of the Exchange, agreed it would not affect them as people who drink do not drive. Mr Horlick said that the road is busy during the day and that pollution is a concern for them.

Josie Irvine, one of the owners of Good Store Studio, also on Old Market Street, said she doesn't think it will impact them that much as most of their customers walk there, adding none of her customers have mentioned the scheme to her. However, she admitted the Clean Air Zone was not something she had given that much thought.

The business owner said she drives into work as she lives outside Bristol but that she will not be impacted by the charges. She added that their deliveries have not mentioned anything about the scheme either.

Josie Irvine, one of the owners of Good Store Studio (Daisy Media LTD/BristolLive)

"I think it is good, anything that is trying to help the environment is good," she added. "I understand that it will be difficult for some people as they will not be able to upgrade their cars, but overall I think it is a good idea.

"I think there is probably a lot more that needs doing and not just the CAZ. Hopefully it might encourage people to get public transport to get into town rather than driving."

Ms Irvine said traffic on Old Market is pretty bad at the moment and described it as a busy road. However, she said that the scheme has not been talked about that much and that no other business owners have said anything about it to her.

"It will be ok hopefully," she said. "It [the CAZ] has been said that it is going to happen for ages. There is so much else happening at the moment that the CAZ isn't at the forefront of people's minds.

"Businesses have a lot of other worries in their minds at the moment, such as rising bills and costs. We are also starting to think about Christmas about now.

"I imagine it [the CAZ] may start coming up more now."

Read next:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.