Monday marked a big day in the saga of Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), as its cameras finally came into operation.
Drivers heading into the city centre may well have noticed new warning signs telling them that road charges now apply – but there are no tolls being enforced until January and, even then, only certain high-polluting vehicles will have to pay up.
Here is a guide to everything you need to know about how the CAZ will impact you.
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Who has to pay a toll?
Under the CAZ, only some older, more polluting vehicles will be subject to daily fees to drive into Newcastle city centre. All private cars have been made exempt from the tolls, but other vehicles that do not comply with modern emissions standards will face charges.
Non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches will be hit with £50-a-day tolls, while the worst polluting vans and taxis will be charged £12.50 per day.
Petrol vans and taxis that meet ‘Euro 4’ standards are exempt, as are ‘Euro 6’ diesels, so it is important to check what class your vehicle is in. All HGVs, buses and coaches must be of ‘Euro 6’ standard to avoid the toll.
Newcastle and Gateshead councils say that, as a general rule, the following vehicles should meet the minimum standard, therefore be exempt from tolls:
- Taxis – Diesels registered after September 2015, petrol cars registered after 2005;
- Vans – Diesels registered after September 2016, petrol after January 2006;
- HGVs, buses and coaches registered after 2014.
You can check if your vehicle is compliant or not by entering your registration number at gov.uk/clean-air-zones.
When do the tolls start?
You may have seen signs popping up around the city centre warning road users about the new CAZ charges, stating that “charges apply, pay online”. In fact, there are no charges in force yet and drivers still have several months to prepare.
The first set of tolls will begin on January 30, 2023 and will apply only to taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs. Vans and light goods vehicles will not face charges until July 2023, with extra time having been afforded due to a national shortage of vans making it harder for people to upgrade to newer, cleaner models.
Originally, the CAZ was supposed to come into force in January 2021, but was pushed back amid delays caused by a High Court battle and the Covid-19 pandemic. It was then expected to start in July this year, before being pushed back again amid concerns over the financial impact it could have on struggling residents and small businesses in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
What happens if I drive through the CAZ today?
If you are driving a non-compliant vehicle through the CAZ before the tolls start in 2023, you should receive a warning letter from the city council informing you that you will soon be subject to charges. Those letters should also include information on how to get advice and support with upgrading your vehicle to one that will avoid the tolls.
What area does the CAZ cover?
The toll zone is in Newcastle city centre only, including the routes in over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges. Earlier versions of the plans included a much larger CAZ that would have also included parts of Gateshead, a stretch of the Coast Road, and up to Gosforth, but the scheme was scaled back. Councils also ditched the idea of halving the number of lanes on the Tyne Bridge in order to deter car journeys.
Why has the CAZ been introduced?
This project has been years in the making and is a result of local councils being issued with a legal order from the Government to reduce illegal levels of air pollution in emissions hotspots, which has been linked to more than 300 deaths on Tyneside each year. Charging CAZ areas are the Government’s chosen means of improving air quality in the shortest possible time and there are versions already in operation in places like Birmingham, with the aim of reducing the number of high-polluting vehicles on the road.
Where can I pay my toll and how quickly do I need to pay?
Once the charges begin on January 30, 2023, affected drivers will be able to pay online via the Government website. You will also be able to pay using an online contact form or by calling a hotline on 0300 029 888, open from Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm. Taxi owners licenced by Newcastle, Gateshead, or North Tyneside councils can also apply for a seven-day permit at a cost of £50, instead of the standard charge of £12.50 per day.
Once the charges launch, drivers will be able to pay up to six days before their journey or six days after. Payments cannot be made before January 30, 2023.
What if I don’t pay the charge on time?
Owners of non-compliant vehicles that do not pay their toll will be issued with a penalty charge notice set at £120, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Can I get help to upgrade my vehicle?
Yes, but the funding is not yet available and applications are not open. Almost £20m worth of funding for upgrade grants has been set aside, with up to £20,000 available per vehicle depending on its type.
Council bosses say they are still finalising the grant process and hope to have applications open in November.
Are there any more exemptions, aside from private cars?
Yes, there will be. These include:
- Disabled tax class or disabled passenger tax class;
- Certain types of agricultural vehicles;
- Historic vehicles;
- Military vehicles;
- Ultra low emission vehicles;
- Vehicles retrofitted with technology accredited by the Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS);
- Specialist agricultural and similar vehicles such as tractors, gritters, snow ploughs, mowing machines digging machines, road-rollers, mobile cranes, mobile pumping vehicles and steam-powered vehicles.
- Emergency services;
- Showmen's vehicles registered to the business of travelling showmen that have been specifically modified or constructed to be used to provide the performance and are permanently fitted with a special type of body or superstructure forming part of the equipment of the show, and are used solely by that person for the purposes of their business;
- Non-commercial vintage buses aged between 20 and 39 years;
- Vehicles awaiting replacement or retrofitting, where evidence is supplied that a compliant vehicle has been ordered or proof that the vehicle has been accepted for retrofitting by an approved supplier and is awaiting work to take place;
- Taxis and private hire vehicles subject to an ongoing finance agreement;
- Wheelchair accessible taxis/private hire vehicles;
- Motor Caravans;
- Community Transport Vehicles;
- Vehicles registered to businesses located within the CAZ;
- Emergency rail replacement buses and coaches;
- Bus and HGV driver training vehicles;
- Breakdown recovery vehicles;
- Hybrid vehicles;
- Taxis and vans belonging to people living within the CAZ.
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