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Birmingham paves way for imminent Clean Air Zone with vehicle scrappage scheme

Birmingham City Council has officially launched its Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Credit Scheme ahead of the arrival of its Clean Air Zone.

Under the scheme, people working in the Clean Air Zone more than 18 hours per week and earning under £30,000 per annum can now scrap their old car and receive a £2,000 credit towards a new vehicle from Motorpoint

The ‘Class D’ vehicle-wide Clean Air Zone launches 1 June 20201 and is the first CAZ outside London to charge polluting cars to enter; although Bath went live with its CAZ mid-March, its ‘Class C’ scheme doesn’t charge cars.

In Birmingham, drivers can now access the city council’s £10m vehicle scrappage scheme to support those hit by the CAZ. Run in partnership with Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) – part of the West Midlands Combined Authority – and car retailer Motorpoint, it’s aimed at those working in the zone and who earn less than £30,000 per annum, and provides the option of scrapping a vehicle that would otherwise be subject to the daily fee.

In return, successful applicants receive a £2,000 grant which can be used on a ‘travel credit’ – which is redeemed against public transport travel on trains, buses and the Metro – or to purchase a vehicle that meets the emission standards of the Clean Air Zone.

Councillor Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, said: “The Clean Air Zone will help improve air quality within our city and the Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Credit Scheme helps tackle the source of the problem by removing the most polluting vehicles from our roads.  We also need to encourage more people to use public transport as an alternative to the car, especially for shorter journeys, and that is why I am particularly excited by the partnership with TfWM.”

To find out more about Birmingham’s Vehicle Scrappage and Travel Credit Scheme – including criteria and how to apply – click here.

For more of the latest industry news, click here.

Written by Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.

Natalie edits all the Fleet World websites and newsletters, and loves to hear about any latest industry news.

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