New Clean Air Zone tolls come into force today in Newcastle
New tolls for van drivers to enter Newcastle’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) come into force today (Mon 17th July).
In what is the first expansion of the charging zone’s fees since it launched in January, owners of vans and LGVs that do not comply with environmental standards will have to pay £12.50 per day if they want to drive through the city centre.
To avoid being charged to enter the CAZ, vehicles must have a Euro 6 diesel or a Euro 4 petrol engine – meaning that petrol vans registered after January 2006 and diesels after September 2016 will be exempt.
Older buses, coaches, lorries and taxis that fall foul of the regulations are already subject to tolls to come into the city centre, while there are no tolls for private cars.
But vans were given a six-month reprieve from the charges because of supply chain problems that council bosses said were making it harder for vehicle owners to upgrade to newer, cleaner models.
There have also been concerns that the £12.50 toll will have a damaging impact on Tyneside’s small and independent businesses, who are already dealing with the effects of the cost of living crisis.
Drivers who will be hit by the toll have been invited to apply for grants to help buy a less-polluting van.
However, latest published statistics showed that Newcastle City Council had not yet issued any payments to van owners as of the end of May.
Anyone who has lodged a grant request will be made temporarily exempt from the CAZ tolls until their application has been determined.
Labour councillor Jane Byrne, the city council’s cabinet member responsible for transport, said: “We’re reminding people with older vans and light goods vehicles that they need to be ready for Clean Air Zone charges from Monday 17 July 2023.
“There are a number of things people can do in advance – including checking whether their vehicle will be charged and checking whether their journeys cover routes within the CAZ.
“There is also still time to apply for a grant of up to £4,500 towards the cost of a cleaner vehicle.”
You can check if your vehicle is compliant at www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones.
The CAZ was introduced in response to a Government order for local councils to reduce illegal levels of pollution in emissions hotspots.
Poor air quality has been linked to more than 300 premature deaths on Tyneside every year.