Leaders at odds over plans to change Bath's Clean Air Zone
The proposals would see HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes charged to enter the area
The leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council says Wiltshire Council’s open letter stating they will 'formally oppose' proposals for Bath’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is 'a shame'.
The plans would see HGVs weighing more than 12 tonnes charged to enter the area.
Cllr Kevin Guy tells us it would further improve the air quality and protect the Grade II listed Cleveland Bridge:
"Obviously massive HGVs coming through the centre of Bath over a historical Grade II listed bridge is just not acceptable.
"The pollution levels, particularly on London Road, are appalling and they are a definite health and safety hazard to the residents there."
Cllr Kevin Guy - Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council
But Cllr Richard Clewer - the leader of Wiltshire Council - says they were not consulted on the changes.
He adds that while he understands 'the challenges that Bath face', he says 'you can't address an air quality problem by pushing it somewhere else':
"I’m afraid we’ve already seen an increase in lorries coming through the west of Wiltshire, particularly in Westbury, and if they go ahead and - in essence - prevent lorries from using Cleveland Bridge, that will simply push that pollution into Wiltshire towns.
"That’s not the way we ought to be addressing an issue like that and it’s not the way two councils ought to be behaving towards each other."
Cllr Richard Clewer - Leader of Wiltshire Council
Last week Wiltshire Council published an open letter which expressed their 'disappointment' to BANES Council's proposals to restrict HGVs using Cleveland Bridge.
The plans are due to be discussed at BANES Council's next Cabinet meeting on Thursday 16 December.
In the open letter, Cllr Clewer says: "The report falls short of exploring many other options available to deal with any air quality hot spots and wrongly singles out weight limit as the only viable option."
Cllr Guy tells us that he is happy to work with 'all his colleagues across the region':
"I'm a big fan of working with everybody and to look at sustainable transport links across the South West.
"It's important that we work together and don't send very silly open letters saying 'we will not support you'. That's not working together, that's just sticking your heels in and not moving - which is a shame from Wiltshire to be honest."
Cllr Kevin Guy - Leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council
How does Bath's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) work?
The Clean Air Zone currently charges high-emission vans, private hire vehicles and taxis £9 a day to enter, while drivers of non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs have to pay £100.
Private cars are not charged.
Some 1,495 drivers were eligible for funding to replace or their vehicles retrofit, and around 600 have already been replaced – including six HGVs weighing 12 tonnes or more.
BANES Council said it had expected to upgrade 108 HGVs in its medium uptake scenario, 'but the sector has responded so well without this support'.