People travelling into Bristol city centre may be able to avoid the Clean Air Zone charge if they park in Cabot Circus. The shopping centre sits on the boundary of Bristol Clean Air Zone, meaning those who are driving non-compliant vehicles may be charged if they use this car park, depending on which entrance and exit they choose.
Bristol Clean Air Zone launched on November 28 as part of the council's initiative to improve the city's air quality. The city exceeded the legal limits for air pollution at 28 test sites in 2021 - but over 71 per cent of vehicles travelling into Bristol already meet the zone's emission standards.
BristolLive spoke to shoppers in Broadmead on the inaugural day of the CAZ to see whether they supported the new charges. Many supported it on the grounds of improving air quality but there was a concern over how businesses in Broadmead would be impacted.
Read more: Bristol's Clean Air Zone comes into force
On Sunday (November 28), shoppers rushed to Cabot Circus on the eve of the Clean Air Zone before midday to make their final charge-free trip into the city centre. There are several car parks around the city centre that sit comfortably outside the CAZ - but who will actually be charged for parking at Cabot Circus and how can drivers avoid it?
Will I be charged if I drive into Cabot Circus car park?
The short answer is - possibly. Cabot Circus Car Park sits within the Bristol Clean Air Zone and non-compliant vehicles will be charged for going through some entrances and exits.
According to the information on its website: "The Newfoundland Entrance/Exit (which is the Main Entrance to the car park) and the Bond Street South Exits are all within the Clean Air Zone and using these entrances or exits will take you through the CAZ.
"Our car park Entrance on Houlton Street is outside the CAZ – but ONLY if you turn right (towards Lawrence Hill) which leads you away from the CAZ. If you turn left at this exit you will enter into the CAZ."
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How to avoid being charged
Advice from the shopping centre continues: "If your vehicle is not compliant and you enter or exit the car park via the CAZ you will have to pay the daily charge. Equally, if you take a route through the CAZ to reach Cabot Circus you will also have to pay the charge, so we suggest you familiarise yourself with the map that shows the zone to help you plan your journey.
"If your vehicle is not compliant and you enter and exit the car park outside of the CAZ (via Houlton Street and only by turning right towards Lawrence Hill upon exit) you will NOT have to pay the daily charge (depending on which route you take to reach Cabot Circus)."
You can check if your vehicle is compliant here.
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