Thousands of people have applied for financial support ahead of the launch of the Clean Air Zone, the council has said. Earlier this month, it was announced that the scheme has once again been delayed and will now be launching towards the end of the year.
The Clean Air Zone was initially due to come into force in October last year, but has faced repeated delays and recently was expected to be launched this September. However, it appears that will not be the case anymore and Mayor Marvin Rees said that the latest launch delay was down to a “national issue with bus lanes”.
As part of the CAZ, residents and businesses will be able to get grants and loans to change their vehicles, with the maximum grant for cars being £1,500 and for vans being £4,500. Bristol City Council has now said it has received more than 3,800 applications for financial support.
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In a statement, the council said: “We’ve received over 3,800 applications for financial support. Our advisors have processed most of the applications from our priority groups. Our finance partners will be contacting eligible applicants from August to guide them through the next stage of the process by putting them in touch with approved car dealerships."
The spokesperson added: “Most vehicles travelling into Bristol won’t be charged to enter the Clean Air Zone and we estimate that over 70 per cent of vehicles already meet the zone’s emission standards. We’re helping affected drivers move to cleaner vehicles so they don’t have to pay a daily charge and have worked hard to get the best deal for Bristol from government, this includes £42 million of funding to help people on low incomes and Bristol businesses replace vehicles that don’t meet the zone’s emission standards.
"We’re also supporting local bus and coach operators and have already provided £1.2 million of funding to help them either retrofit or replace older and polluting vehicles that don't meet the zone's emission standards.
“We’re making sure as many people as possible are aware of the Clean Air Zone and the support the council is providing. Our engagement team has so far held spoken to 1000 people at 22 community roadshows in neighbourhoods inside the Clean Air Zone and spoken to over 250 businesses at high streets and industrial parks across the city.
“We can’t give a breakdown of how many people have accessed the free active support because it was only launched last week. The travel offers are open to everyone that lives or works in Bristol and have the huge potential for positive behaviour change to benefit our health, environment and economy.
"The three-year scheme includes one month bike and e-bike trials, adult cycle training courses, VOI eScooter credit, taster bus tickets and personalised travel planning sessions.”
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.
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.
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