The Newcastle and Gateshead Clean Air Zone is now live, impacting older buses, coaches, taxis and HGVs, but not vans yet.
The ‘Class C’ CAZ covers most of Newcastle city centre as well as routes over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh Bridges.
Drivers of non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs will now be charged £50.00 per day and non-compliant taxis and minibuses will be charged £12.50 per day.
Charges for non-compliant vans and light goods vehicles are also set at £12.50 per day, but don’t kick in until July 2023 to help drivers impacted by the vehicle supply chain issues from the semiconductor shortage.
Private cars are not included in the scheme after a 2019 consultation saw strong public opposition.
The Clean Air Zone goes live in response to a legal direction by the Government to the councils to reduce illegal levels of traffic-related pollution.
Speaking to the BBC, Newcastle City Council leader Nick Kemp said: ‘Central government says we must impose a CAZ and we’re acting on the most polluting vehicles. Private cars are exempt but taxi drivers, HGV’s and buses could be liable to pay.
‘It’s not about preventing people coming into the city, it’s really about stopping unnecessary journeys through the city centre and ensuring we have better vehicles providing public service.’
Businesses impacted by the CAZ can apply for funding to help reduce the cost of vehicle replacement; both Anglo Scottish Asset Finance and Shire Leasing are delivering schemes, helped by the Government’s Clean Air Fund and will also advise businesses and individuals on how to switch to more sustainable forms of transportation.
It’s the latest Clean Air Zone to launch in the UK and arrives shortly before Sheffield goes live with its own ‘Class C’ scheme for HGVs and LCVs. The London ULEZ will also expand to include all of the capital from Tuesday 29 August 2023.
More details on the new Newcastle and Gateshead CAZ are available on the Breath-Clean Air website.
To find out whether your vehicle is affected, visit the Government’s online vehicle checker HERE.
