Commercial vehicle operators in the Bath area can now apply for financial assistance, enabling them to prepare for the March 2021 launch of a Clean Air Zone in the city.
The CAZ – the first to go live in the UK outside of London – was confirmed a month ago and is planned to launch on Monday 15 March 2021, after its November start date was put back due to the pandemic.
The ‘Class C’ zone will charge non-compliant taxis, private hire vehicles, minibuses, LGVs and vans (including pick-ups and campervans) £9 a day while non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs will be charged £100 a day. Private cars have not been included in the scheme.
To provide support for affected fleets, the city has implemented a financial assistance scheme for local businesses to make the switch to more eco-friendly vehicles.
The scheme is funded by the Government’s ‘Clean Air Fund’ and is being delivered by equipment leasing and asset finance specialist Shire Leasing, which is offering grants and/or interest-free finance to provide direct financial aid.
Shire Leasing has also been instrumental in delivering the framework for the financial assistance scheme, which is now available to other UK councils setting up a charging CAZ.
Julie Henehan, corporate development director at Shire Leasing, said: “Affordable solutions are particularly needed during these turbulent times, when a lot of businesses have faced difficulty and disruption due to the pandemic and nationwide lockdown.
“Grants and interest-free finance will make it possible for many more Bath businesses to acquire compliant vehicles. There has never been a better opportunity to upgrade a vehicle for the sake of the environment and the bottom line.”
Vehicles that will qualify for an upgrade under the financial assistance scheme include Euro 1 to 5 diesel and Euro 1-3 petrol vehicles, including LGVs, vans and HGVs, as well as buses, coaches and taxis that regularly enter the city centre.
More information on available financial assistance and who qualifies is available at: www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathCAZ
