Portway to the Clean Air Zone (CAZ)

All residents and visitors to Bristol need to get ready for 28^th November: the introduction of Bristol’s delayed Clean Air Zone (CAZ). Bristol City Council have taken this step to help reduce pollution in our city which was the first to declare a climate emergency in 2018.

The government have set a legal limit for pollution and without the Clean Air Zone, Bristol will fail to meet this limit.

Are some vehicles prohibited from entering the city?

No vehicles are barred outright, but if you own an older or more polluting vehicle you will face a daily charge to travel into a main area of the city.

Studies show that air pollution is damaging to health and a contributing factor to reduced life expectancy. Respiratory illnesses such as asthma have been linked to noxious chemicals in air pollution. According to Imperial College London, there is growing evidence of a link between air pollution and dementia; this is a public health issue that needs to be addressed.

Those most affected tend to be the young, the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.

How much will it cost?

For a private more polluting vehicle the cost will be £9. This charge is for cars, taxis, and vans which pollute the most so older petrol cars, diesel vehicles and older vans. You can check if your vehicle will be charged which takes less than a minute.

If you considered getting an electric vehicle, but felt put off by the initial cost, now might be the right time to invest. At A Class Driving School Bristol, we are moving towards electric vehicles to help tackle pollution. 

Charges will apply seven days a week and 24 hours a day. If you plan to drive through Bristol and you have an older, polluting vehicle — you will face a charge no matter when you drive.

What happens if you don’t pay?

Drivers face a fine of £120 if they fail to pay the charge. If they pay within 14 days, the cost will be £60. Although signage will mark the boundary of the zone, drivers are responsible for making the payment as no notification is to be issued.

The onus is on drivers to know they are in a zone and pay or face penalties which will be costly.

How far does the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) extend from the city centre?

The zone boundaries agreed by Bristol City Councillors may cause concern among some residents and business owners. Some fear the increased charges especially to lorries, coaches, and buses (£100 per day) will mean fewer deliveries, increased costs for businesses and fewer buses.

The leaflet that dropped through my door earlier this week clearly marks the borders of the clean air zone. It is unsurprising Hotwells, St Pauls, Temple Quay and Southville feature. The inclusion of the Portway and dual carriageway over Cumberland Basin could lead to unintended consequences.

These consequences include other routes becoming more congested as drivers seek alternative routes. Many drivers in Bristol live in South Bristol but work in or near the city centre. Their journey times could increase, and it will cost more in petrol to reach their destination. 

This may incentivise drivers to buy an electric car, car share to reduce the cost or get a lift with a driver with a vehicle exempt from the charge.

In an article from itv.com, it is estimated that 75,000 drivers per day are likely to affected by the introduction of the zone. That’s good revenue for Bristol city council. Let’s hope the money goes towards improving local services and infrastructure.

Why is this happening now?

Our government needs to meet the 2050 carbon targets recommended by the Committee for Climate Change. The government is set to ban the sale of all new petrol and diesel cars from 2030 with hybrid cars scheduled their ban from 2035. This is in response to the urgent need to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from transport.

How will the Clean Air Zone affect driver behaviour?

An increase in the purchase of electric vehicles, increased use of public transport and drivers considering carefully why they need to travel into the clean air zone could result from this initiative. In fact, this is the wish of Bristol City Council and the government.

Ideally, we end up with less congestion and cleaner air resulting in healthier citizens.

The scheme has been delayed by over a year and it is yet to be seen the differences this will make. Imperial College London are conducting impact studies on the impact of these schemes.

They quantified that in London between 2016 and 2020, ‘the number of Londoners living in areas with illegally high levels of nitrogen dioxide fell by 94 per cent, and alongside this there were other reductions in London’s air pollution.’

If similar levels can be achieved in Bristol and other cities throughout the UK, we could get a lot closer to achieving net zero by 2050.