Test cameras for the Clean Air Zone have started going up around Bristol, the council has revealed. Last week, it was announced that the scheme has once again been delayed and will now be launching towards the end of the year.
Mayor Marvin Rees said that the launch delay was down to a “national issue with bus lanes”. The Clean Air Zone was initially due to come into force in October last year, but has faced repeated delays.
Recently it was expected to be launched this September, but this will now likely be pushed back again due to a change in regulations on bus lanes. Mr Rees said the city council has done “everything we can” and blamed Westminster for the delays.
Read more: Bristol Clean Air Zone will now be starting 'towards the end of the year'
Bristol City Council said test cameras have been installed on Jacob's Wells Road, York Street and Old Market. BristolLive understands that regulations enabling councils to apply for the legal authority to enforce moving traffic contraventions came into force on May 31, 2022 - but that these regulations are not related to Clean Air Zones.
Under the new regulations, local authorities may now apply to the Secretary of State to be granted the powers through a "designation order. However, BristolLive understands these regulations are not related to Clean Air Zones and will not affect the way they operate.
The council has previously said that the change in traffic enforcement regulations has meant work programmes have had to be adjusted for the zone to meet the new legislation from the Government. A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “The city was on track to introduce the zone in late summer but a recent Government change to national traffic enforcement regulations has meant work programmes have had to be adjusted for the zone to meet the new legislation from the government.
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“The council is working with Government and its contractors to agree a start date for when the zone will start operating. We are working to a start date towards the end of the year.
"We have also asked Government for an extension to the temporary exemption period for those who are eligible to reflect any revised launch date."
At present, temporary exemptions for the Clean Air Zone are due to be in place until the end of 2022 for certain eligible groups such as residents in the zone, people working within the zone and earning less than £26,000 a year as well as Blue Badge holders. Patients and visitors attending hospitals in the zone would also be covered by the exemptions.
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Under the Clean Air Zone, charges would be set at £9 a day for smaller vehicles and £100 for larger vehicles. Bristol City Council is legally required to introduce measures to cut harmful air pollution from vehicles driving in the city centre.
Today (Thursday, June 16) marks Clean Air Day, said to be the UK's largest air pollution campaign.
