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‘Caged by the clean air zone’
A caged demonstrator was among people protesting what they branded Bristol’s “dirty air crisis”.
‘Caged by the clean air zone’, the banner read as they sat in a makeshift enclosure on Tuesday.
Timed before Bristol City Council’s full council meeting, the group of people came together outside City Hall to highlight how current plans for Bristol’s clean air zone will “impact most” on disabled communities.
is needed now More than ever
Protesters fear the scheme could mean many lose access to a car – “trapping disabled people in their homes and driving them deeper into poverty”.
They pointed to problems including insufficient funding, lack of accessible and affordable public transport alternatives, the short exemption period for blue badge holders and unaffordable charges.
A caged protester is among people outside City Hall protesting what they call Bristol’s “dirty air crisis” pic.twitter.com/Yhq9gAfx08
— Betty Woolerton (@bettywoolerton) October 18, 2022
Bristol’s much-delayed clean air zone is set to begin on November 28.
When the new measures do come into play, non-compliant vehicles will be charged to enter an area that covers the city centre, a portion of Old Market and just south of the river. The charge for older, more polluting private vehicles is £9 per day.
Emma Geen, spokesperson for the BDEF said: “Bristol is experiencing a dirty air crisis, which kills hundreds of disabled people a year, so we welcome action to clean our air. But the price of clean air cannot be the independence of disabled people.
“Over a third of adults in poverty are disabled people and, alongside the burden of austerity, the pandemic, and now the cost-of-living crisis, the scheme could drive many more into serious poverty or trap them in their homes.”
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer joined Bristol Disability Equality Forum (BDEF), Disabled Women Take Action, and Bristol Independent Living outside City Hall
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said it was “doing what we can to support those who are most impacted”.
They told Bristol24/7:
- It secured a £42 million funding package from the government, “much more than other cities which have implemented clean air zones”, to support people and businesses affected
- It secured support to allow blue badge holders more time to prepare for the change
- It is holding clean air zone advice clinics for disabled groups so they can access face-to-face support
All photos: Rob Browne
Read next:
- November 2022 now likely start date for Bristol’s clean air zone
- ‘Local government needs to be made more accessible for disabled candidates’
- ‘It’s vital disabled people are at the heart of climate action’
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