Bristol’s Clean Air Zone will start operating on Monday 28 November, levying charges across all types of older vehicles including cars and vans.
The launch date has been agreed with government ministers and officials at the Joint Air Quality Unit, and the council is also highlighting that there is still time to apply for financial support to replace vehicles that don’t meet the zone’s emission standards.
Bristol City Council has come under pressure from the Government to take action on illegal levels of air pollution and originally set out its proposals for a Class D CAZ in February 2021 after analysis indicated it would ensure compliance with legal limits sooner than a larger city scheme that included vans but excluded private cars.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said the confirmation of the start date was a major milestone on the city’s journey to clean air.
“Poor air quality has a major impact on the health of everyone in the city and the Clean Air Zone will help us tackle this issue and meet government targets for cleaner air in 2023.”
As with all Clean Air Zones, the scheme is unlikely to impact company car drivers but may affect grey fleet drivers as well as van operators. Cars and vans will need to be Euro 6-compliant for diesels (generally vehicles registered from September 2015) or Euro 4 for petrol (generally vehicles registered from January 2006).
Only a third of vehicles using the zone are expected to be affected; drivers can check if their vehicle will be charged using the Government’s Clean Air Zone checker tool.
The council is also supporting people on low incomes and Bristol-based businesses to prepare for the zone.
It has £42m of funding to help those that need to replace vehicles to meet the zone’s emission standards – including interest-free loans and grants as well as support with active travel. Details are available via the council’s website.
Mayor Rees added: “With five months until the zone starts, there’s still time to get help from the council if you need to replace your vehicle.
“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 dealerships.”
Bristol joins a growing list of councils with Clean Air Zones, including Bath, Birmingham and Portsmouth. Meanwhile, Bradford will start charging on 26 September 2022 and Tyneside (Newcastle and Gateshead) will start charging sometime between late 2022 and early 2023. Plans for Greater Manchester remain under review.
