Newcastle's 'Clean Air Zone' to launch next week

Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will be issuing its first tolls in just seven days’ time.

Drivers now have just a week left to prepare for the changes and work out what the anti-pollution tolls will mean for them.

All private cars are exempt from the CAZ fees, but other vehicles will be hit with substantial daily charges to drive into Newcastle city centre if they do not meet the zone’s environmental standards.

From next Monday, January 30, older and higher-polluting taxis, buses, coaches and HGVs will be subject to tolls of up to £50 per day.

There will also be tolls coming into force for vans, although these have been delayed until July.

The CAZ is being brought in after local councils were ordered by the Government to reduce illegal air pollution levels, which have been linked to hundreds of premature deaths on Tyneside every year, and the authorities say they could find no other method that would cut emissions as quickly.

The plans have been in the works for years, but suffered a number of delays caused by the Covid pandemic, a High Court legal battle, and concerns about the impact that the heavy tolls will have on people and businesses already enduring a cost of living crisis.

Non-compliant lorries, buses and coaches will be hit with £50-a-day tolls, while the worst polluting vans and taxis will be charged £12.50 per day under the CAZ.

Petrol vans and taxis that meet ‘Euro 4’ standards are exempt, as are ‘Euro 6’ diesels. All HGVs, buses and coaches must be of ‘Euro 6’ standard to avoid the toll.

Newcastle and Gateshead councils say that, as a general rule, the following vehicles should meet the minimum standard and, therefore, be exempt from tolls:

Taxis – Diesels registered after September 2015, petrol cars registered after 2005;

Vans – Diesels registered after September 2016, petrol after January 2006;

HGVs, buses and coaches registered after 2014.

You can check if your vehicle is compliant or not by entering your registration number at gov.uk/clean-air-zones.

Affected drivers will be able to make their payments up to six days in advance of their journey and six days after, though no payments can be made before the launch date on January 30.

You will be able to pay online via the Government website, via an online contact form, or by calling a hotline on 0300 029 888, open from Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm.

Taxi owners licensed by Newcastle, Gateshead or North Tyneside councils can also apply for a seven-day permit at a cost of £50, instead of the standard charge of £12.50 per day.

People and businesses who will be hit by the CAZ tolls are also able to apply for grants to help them with the cost of upgrading to a compliant vehicle. These range from £3,500 to £16,000 depending on the type of vehicle and anyone who applies will received a 120-day exemption from the CAZ tolls while their request is processed.

Coun John McElroy, cabinet member for the environment and transport at Gateshead Council, added:

“Not everyone will be charged to enter the Clean Air Zone. From January 30, charges will apply only to older taxis, buses, coaches and HGVs that do not meet national emissions standards.

“We’re encouraging owners of those types of vehicle to check whether they are affected and take the necessary steps to get ready before the CAZ launches at the end of this month.”

The toll zone is in Newcastle city centre only, including the routes in over the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges, and it will be active 24/7.

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