Bristol is set to start charging more polluting vehicles to enter the city centre in an attempt to cut air pollution. The Bristol Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will be in place from Monday (November 28) across the city centre and some inner suburbs.
For non-compliant private cars, taxis and vans or lorries weighing less than 3.5 tonnes, the charge will be £9 per day. Non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches will pay £100. Bristol City Council estimates that 71% of vehicles registered in the city are compliant, the BBC reports.
Any diesel vehicles which do not meet Euro 6 emissions will be charged. These are likely to have been registered before September 2015. Petrol vehicles that do not conform to Euro 4 standards — generally registered before January 2006 — will also be charged. Drivers can check their vehicle's compliance on the government's website.
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Drivers who fail to pay a charge will be issued a £120 fine via penalty charge notice (PCN). It will be cut to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The zone stretches from just north of the 'Bearpit' St James Barton Roundabout to Hotwells in the west, Temple Way and Temple Meads Station in the east, and Southville's Coronation Road in the south. It also goes up Hotwells Road, under the Clifton Suspension Bridge and up Bridge Valley Road to where it meets Ladies Mile and Clifton Down, while in Newtown it covers a section of West Street to where it meets Midland Road.
Some cities across the UK have rolled out CAZs in an attempt to bring down inner-city pollution, particularly nitrogen dioxide levels. Bristol council has said it is not intended to be a money-making scheme so funds raised over the first 10 years will be spent on the zone's operational costs. Any extra revenue will go towards council transport schemes.
The charge will apply 24/7 but only once in a 24-hour period, meaning non-compliant vehicles can make multiple journeys in a day with just one charge. Certain drivers can apply for a temporary exemption. For example, visitors to clinics and hospitals in the zone can apply for a seven-day pass.
Blue badge holders can apply for an exemption to give them time to change their vehicle. Community transport vehicles may also be able to avoid the charge. Those with exemptions will not need to log anything or show anything in their vehicle. You can check for exemptions on the council's website.
The council has earmarked £1.8million for drivers to apply for a loan or grant of up to £2,000. Disabled drivers and those on incomes lower than £27,000 per year will be given priority. Another £32million is reserved for businesses to upgrade HGVs, LGVs, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles. Sums between £1,500 and £16,000 are available depending on the vehicle. Some funding is also available for cycle training, free bus tickets and loans for electric bikes. You can register your interest in financial support on the council's website.
Drivers can pay their charge through the government's website or by calling by the Clean Air Zone support line on 0300 0298888. Charges can be paid up to six days before or six days after entering the zone. You can zoom in on the Bristol CAZ map here. Read more of the latest transport news here.
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