Almost six months on from the Clean Air Zone being introduced on Bristol's roads, Bristol City Council said this week it would be ‘too confusing’ to publish the total number of fines issued so far. But there have been a number of drivers caught out in the CAZ zone who have been confused in other ways, who have been landed with fines that they don't agree with.
Details as to the number of fines, as well as the effects on air pollution, are expected to be published at the end of the year in an updated report on the Clean Air Zone. In the meantime, Bristol Live has been reporting anecdotal accounts from businesses, residents and motorists about the impact of the zone and people's individual experiences of it.
While some have been positive or indifferent about its introduction, the majority of people getting in touch are drivers who are unhappy having received an unexpected fine in the post. Here we take a look at some of CAZ stories we've published since it was brought in, with a few recurring themes - including drivers' claim that the signage is inadequate, or that it's counterproductive as people take a longer route to avoid it.
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15 May
Alan Green from Piling received a fine for £120. This was after he entered the Clean Air Zone in January at the Bower Ashton roundabout. He did not expect CAZ to stretch that far out and said having gone back to look at the area, he could see no advance warning signs prior to the zone.
Alan’s appeal was rejected. He said he was not against a Clean Air Zone but felt there should be better signage to warn drivers, particularly those unfamiliar with Bristol who might not know to check the boundaries beforehand.
13 May
Nick Gillett from London racked up a staggering £1,000 in CAZ fines without knowing Bristol has a CAZ. He made trips to visit family in Bristol at Christmas and in January by car after borrowing an 11 year old diesel vehicle. This vehicle made him liable to pay £9 a day CAZ charge.
The owner of car returned from hsi trip to find four separate CAZ fines of £120 for four days Nick had driven through the zone. As the fines had laid on his friend’s doormat as he was away out of the country, the fines had doubled through non-payment to £945.
The appeal was too late and he had to pay.
9 May 2023
Trevor Wright from Suffolk was in Bristol to watch Norwich City play the home team in February and stayed for the weekend. They were unaware of the CAZ system which came into force in November.
Some six weeks later he received two fines through the post, saying he felt like he’d been “punched in the stomach”. He said tourists are going to be “a lot more” than locals and council needs to do more to make visitors to the city aware of CAZ.
He added that he had no idea he had entered a CAZ zone and there was no notification at the time in which you’re supposed to pay. He did not say whether he had appealed.
3 May
John Penny from Australia visited the city on April 11 and was warned by a friend about CAZ. He wasn’t sure if his car was clocked on the CAZ cameras so phoned the council as drivers have six days to pay the CAZ charge and avoid a possible fine.
He said the council representative could not tell him if he had entered the CAZ zone or not. He paid £9 to play it safe and asked if he would get a deposit if he had not entered the CAZ zone and was told no.
He paid £9 and lodged a complaint form. He said Bristol needs a “more honest system”.
31 March
A Bristol mum who did not want to be named, said her son was caught six times in January and February coming out of North St onto the Cumberland Basin. He did not think he was in the CAZ.
Six weeks later, he got a penalty notice. Her son had told her CAZ signs were non-existent or difficult to see in the dark and that new signs have recently emerged. He faced up to £360 in fines and appealed the penalty notice.
28 March
Alan Stubbington vowed never to return to Bristol after being hit with a series of CAZ fines. He was in the city to visit his seriously ill granddaughter and it was the first time he had been in Bristol city centre.
He said he was following his satnav, avoided bus lanes and read road signs. He got lost and drove around looking for the hospital while under “a fair bit of stress”. He saw ‘green signs’ but thought his car was new enough to be emission friendly.
He received two fines in January in the post still within the grace period and paid the fines. He said they arrived too late to lodge a seven day appeal and said: “The whole thing is a disgrace."
23 March
Henry Franklin feared he may lose his home and his job after driving through the Clean Air Zone 30 times without realising he was going to face fines. He believed his car complied with the rules and used it for his daily commute.
He drove through CAZ during February and March and had received fines of up to £4000. He expected that tally to increase. He was annoyed that the fines were only sent out after the six-day grace period and said the system was difficult to understand.
He now drives a longer route to avoid CAZ. He appealed the fines.
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18 Feb
Andrew and Fiona Robison who live in Sussex and have never been to Bristol kept getting CAZ fines in the post. This was due to a dark-coloured bolt on the number plate of a completely different car.
They faced around a dozen times and with each appeal, each fine was quashed. They were getting frustrated as it kept happening and were worried about going on holiday or if a fine was lost in the post and they were unable to appeal it.
The couple’s silver Renault diesel with registration which starts GY11 was being mistaken for a silver Audi with registration starting CY11 with a bolt next to the C. The Robisons were threatened with fines and formally complained to Bristol City Council.
The council said all their fines were cancelled.
5 February
Scores of Asda shoppers in Bedminster received penalty notices after being assured that would not happen. This situation arose when in early December, a council spokesperson told Bristol Live that drivers who exited the Asda Car Park onto Coronation Road and turned left straight away down St John’s Road into Bedminster would not be fined.
This was because that stretch of road on Coronation Road was given an exemption out of the Clean Air Zone too create a diversion route for vehicles heading the other way towards Whitehouse Lane and Malago Road. Bristol Council accepted appeals against those fines on the basis that drivers had been following incorrect council advice.
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30 January
Colin Lovell was left fuming and out of pocket after he was told his Euro6 diesel car was compliant with Bristol’s Clean Air Zone, but was then fined after taking his wife to hospital. His car was compliant with Bath’s Clean Air Zone rules.
The 87-year-old said he was told by the dealership in Bath that the vehicle was compliant with Bristol’s Clean Air Zone. Two weeks later he had to take his wife to hospital in Bristol and received a £9 fine.
He paid the fine as he said: “There’s no way out of it and if I don’t pay, it’ll be £120 if you don’t pay within seven days. I’m very annoyed about it all.”
16 March
And then there was the motorist who was avoiding fines by driving around CAZ, although he estimated this meant producing three times his previous emissions. Adrian Knight travels every week between Easton and Bedminster.
But instead of going through the city and CAZ zones, he drives around with a route which is three times longer, which he said, is using three times his old emissions. As a pensioner, Mr Knight said he could not afford to buy a new car which would be compliant.
What Bristol City Council says about the CAZ complaints
Bristol City Council’s website does contain a link to the DVLA vehicle checker so people can see in advance - or afterwards - if their vehicle is liable for the charge, and does contain a detailed map of the CAZ itself. The council warns motorists that if they pay the CAZ in advance and then don’t make the journey into it - there are no refunds.
There are signs at several entry points to the CAZ advising drivers of its existence, and the electronic signage on key routes also often displays CAZ warning notices. In March, when another Bristol visitor complained of receiving CAZ fines, a council spokesperson said: "Bristol’s Clean Air Zone emissions standards will ensure that the city meets the requirement from government to bring air pollution within legal limits in the shortest possible time.
"We have always been clear that drivers should use the vehicle checker before travelling to find out if they need to pay a charge for their chosen route. Those who think they have received a Clean Air Zone PCN in error or have mitigating circumstances can submit an appeal. Each appeal will be assessed based on its own merit."
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