West Country Clean Air Zone helps improve air quality
The CAZ in Bath was the first to be implemented outside of London, back in March 2021
Last updated 29th Jun 2024
A new study has found the quality of air in Bath continues to improve - with a 26 per cent reduction in toxic nitrogen dioxide within the city's clean air zone.
The annual report's compared the levels in 2022 with 2019 - two years before the CAZ came into force.
The 2022 Annual CAZ report notes an annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2) reduction within the zone, representing an average reduction of 8.5 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3).
In the urban area outside the zone, there's been a 27% mean reduction with nine fewer sites exceeding the legal limit of 40 μg/m3 - falling from 10 sites in 2019 to just one site in 2022.
Comparing data with 2021, the it's been revealed there has been an additional reduction of 7% within the boundary of the CAZ of NO2 concentrations - adding to the evidence indicating that air quality has improved within the clean air zone, and the surrounding B&NES region.
The clean air zone in Bath was the first to be introduced outside of London, and came into force on March 15, 2021 in a bid by the local authority to tackle some of the most harmfully polluting vehicles - including taxis, vans, buses and larger commercial vehicles.
It's been revealed by B&NES Council that compliance of the CAZ has also significantly improved.
To-date, there are 71% fewer polluting vehicles driving in the zone (December 2022) – an average of 497 vehicles per day - compared with an average of 1,742 vehicles in the first week the CAZ launched in March 2021.
The report also notes the impacts of Covid-19, however, and the partial closure of Cleveland Bridge from October 2021 to October 2022 on the volume and direction of traffic through the city.
'It's heartening to see'
Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy Leader and cabinet member for Climate Emergency and Sustainable Travel, said: “It’s heartening to see the clear indications in this report that the clean air zone is working to improve air quality across the area, not just within the zone.
“Air pollution is a significant risk to people’s health, which is why the Government directed us to implement the CAZ.
“The partial closure of Cleveland Bridge and the impact of the Covid-pandemic on traffic flow means that we cannot draw clear conclusions on the impact of the zone on traffic displacement in 2022, however we await the government’s review of our data to confirm whether the CAZ has achieved success.
“The upturn in compliance demonstrates support from the public which should be applauded, but we recognise that there is still more to do to drive down pollution at all locations in Bath. Looking ahead, we’ll pay particular attention to sites that continue to exceed legal limits and find specific solutions to combat this. We will also continue to promote sustainable travel alternatives to the car which will increasingly enable people to walk, cycle or wheel for healthier short journeys around the city, reducing both pollution and carbon emissions from transport.”
A £9.4m financial assistance scheme was launched by the local authority to help local businesses and individuals replace or upgrade polluting vehicles with cleaner, compliant ones.
This pot of money saw owners of more than 1,500 vehicles apply for support.
Of those, 938 polluting vehicles were replaced or upgraded through the scheme by the end of 2022.
A £9 or £100 a day charge is levied on anyone driving a chargeable higher emission vehicle in the zone.
This excludes private cars and motorcycles which are not charged.
The charges are designed to deter higher polluting vehicles from entering the zone, while also speeding up the natural replacement rate of polluting vehicles in exchange for cleaner ones.
Any cash brought in through clean air zone charges are spent on supporting sustainable transport projects by the council.
You can read the full report here.
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