Bristol Clean Air Zone begins
You'll now be charged for driving into the city centre if your vehicle is too polluting
Bristol's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has officially come into force, meaning non-compliant vehicles will now be charged for entering a significant area of the city centre.
After years of talk, the CAZ was introduced at midnight today (November 28), in an attempt to reduce air pollution in the city below legal limits.
It means vehicles deemed too polluting will now be charged for entering the zone, £9 per day for cars, vans and taxis and £100 per day for lorries, buses and HGV's.
Marvin Rees is the Mayor of Bristol.
“What an incredible milestone we’ve achieved today, launching Bristol’s Clean Air Zone to help create a city that is healthier for everyone to grow up, live and work," he said
"No vehicles are banned from entering the central zone, and Bristol remains very much open to all residents, visitors and businesses, particularly as we look ahead to the busy Christmas period.
“We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve the city’s health, as well as tackle the climate emergency, but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment.
"We have taken our time to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most.
"Temporary exemptions and financial support are still available, and I urge people to check if they’re eligible.”
Bristol City Council has received £42 million from the government for support packages, including loans and grants to help people upgrade their vehicles.
Of that £32 million is to help businesses upgrade theirs and £5.9 million is being used to help people switch to public transport or cycling, with free electric bike loans.
We spoke to drivers on their commutes this morning, to get their opinions.
"We've got a big problem with air pollution in Bristol, particularly round here," one man told us.
"Something needs to be done.
"Whether this is going to help, time will tell."
Another called the zone "ridiculous".
"I've got to go right through to get to work every day, can't afford a new van, can't afford to pay the £9 a day, I'm just stuck," he said.
"Today I'm driving through to see what happens, apparently I'm getting a temporary exemption today because I've been accepted for the help, but we'll see.
"I bet I'll get a few letters through my door."
A third was much more positive.
"I absolutely am a fan," he said.
"Bristol's declared a climate emergency, this is one step closer to meeting the objectives and I think it can only be a good thing."
Chloe Naldrett is from Extinction Rebellion in Bristol.
"My thoughts are that it's a really important first step for the city to be making," she told us.
"It's not enough on its own to tackle the problems of dirty air that we have in the city, and it's not as big as campaigners were pushing for...
"Of course, I have sympathy with the people this is going to effect on a day-to-day basis, who have no other option than to drive into the city.
"With any new initiative there is a period at the beginning where we all have to get used to something new and it's really difficult and inconvenient and really annoying.
"I also have enormous sympathy for the parents in this city, who are watching their children struggle for breath through an asthma attack.
"I've got huge sympathy for the people in this city, who are losing loved members of their family to strokes and lung cancer and heart disease, a third of which are attributable to air pollution."
Chloe also said that a well-functioning bus service will be "essential" to the success of the CAZ and that while the fees may seem like the final straw for some people and businesses "what’s really pushing them over the edge is the cost of living crisis," she said.
"The government could meaningfully improve all three situations by investing in renewable energy, insulating homes and businesses and taxing the energy companies properly," she said.
"The money is there, but we need to see politicians prioritise the needs of working people, not the profits of obscenely wealthy multi-nationals."
Daily charges for the CAZ apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, all year round, and must be paid within six days of travel.
People can pay online at www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones or by calling the Clean Air Zone support line on 0300 029 8888 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 7pm, Saturday: 8am to 2pm).
Users of smart phones can also pay the charge using free-to-use apps like Caura.
From today, the council will send Penalty Charge Notices to people who drive non-compliant vehicles in the Zone and do not pay the appropriate daily charge.
Failure to pay the charge will result in a full Penalty Charge Notice of £120, or £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the outstanding daily charge.
However, for the next six weeks, people will be given the option paying a Special Payment Offer.
This Special Payment Offer gives people seven days to pay the appropriate daily charge for their journey.
If the charge is paid, the remaining Penalty Charge of £120 will be cancelled.
You can find much more information about the CAZ here.