Birmingham Clean Air Zone: Drivers won't be charged for first two weeks

From the 14th of June, charging begins

Author: Megan JonesPublished 1st Jun 2021
Last updated 1st Jun 2021

A 'soft launch' of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone has happened today to give people "extra time to get ready".

It means, from 1 June 2021 through to 11:59:59pm 13 June 2021 the council will not require drivers to pay the daily fee and they will not pursue enforcement.

From 14 June 2021 the owners of non-compliant vehicles will be required to pay the daily fee (unless a valid exemption is in place).

If they do not pay the daily fee after this date the registered keeper of the vehicle will be issued with a penalty charge notice.

By adopting this approach the Council is providing drivers with a little extra time to get ready, review the support available and to consider the alternatives to driving through the Clean Air Zone.

Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment at Birmingham City Council, Councillor Waseem Zaffar MBE has said:

"After more than two years of planning, I'm delighted to launch Birmingham's Clean Air Zone. This is a bold move that will help to address some significant health inequalities in our city. This is also an important step in encouraging people to re-think how we all move around the city.

“I'm confident that this initiative will save lives, and provide a cleaner, greener, safer space for our communities in a part of our city that has a problem with poor air quality.

“Whilst we have agreed on a two-week soft launch period where people won't have to pay, I would encourage everyone to use this time to check their vehicles, familiarise themselves with the charging process and check out the support that is still available through the Brum Breathes website."

Cars, taxis and LGVs which do not meet the Clean Air Zone emission standard will be charged £8 a day and non-compliant coaches, buses and HGVs will be charged £50 per day.

The Clean Air Zone charge runs midnight to midnight. Drivers can pay six days in advance of their visit, the day of their visit and six days after the day of their visit, giving a total payment window of 13 days.

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