News / Clean Air Zone
Congestion charge ‘might not be necessary’ for Bristol’s clean air plans
Changes to work and travel patterns may be enough to improve Bristol’s air quality without the need for congestion charges, the mayor has revealed.
Marvin Rees said if the city can reduce the levels of toxic pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide to reach legal compliance without having to impose the measures previously being proposed it would be “the best of both worlds” as we face “the worst economic depression in 300 years”.
Under existing clean air plans, the council was proposing to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ) that older, polluting vehicles would have to pay to enter. It says it is no longer required to proceed with the original option of also implementing a ban on privately-owned diesel cars.
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Speaking during a press briefing on Wednesday, the mayor stressed that all options are still on the table as the council seeks to accelerate improvements to walking and cycling, including the closure of Baldwin Street and Bristol Bridge and pedestrianisation of the Old City.
In 2017, the government told Bristol City Council to tackle the illegal levels of air pollution in the city to reach legal compliance in the shortest time possible.
Rees has now suggested this might not include any charging zone, although he stressed that further evidence is needed, and the council will be working with the government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to gather data on all options.
“We have actually maintained a fair improvement in the quality of air in the city because travel and work patterns have changed,” he said.
“The opportunity that is now before us is that, if we can maintain the best of those changes in those work patterns and lifestyles, we believe we will be able to pursue a plan to get us to compliance in the shortest possible time in a way that doesn’t actually charge households and businesses.
“And that would be the best of all worlds as we go into the worst economic depression in 300 years with the impacts on businesses and households in the city. If we can get to compliance without further compounding their economic woes, that would be the best for Bristol.”
Previous plans were due to take effect from April 2021, but this was delayed following a directive from the government.
Rees admitted it will “take a concerted effort from all of us to change the way we move around the city” to maintain the improvements to air quality recorded during lockdown, when traffic on the roads reduced dramatically.
Responding to concerns the raft of proposed changes to transport infrastructure, including closing more streets to through-traffic, are being pushed through too quickly, the mayor said it was vital for the council to act quickly to access the government money available within the two-week window given and not miss out. Consultation on the transport plans is ongoing.
As part of the council’s new ‘test and learn approach’, transport upgrades will be “rigorously reviewed” against an evidence base on traffic, travel patterns and air pollution levels.
If modelling shows Bristol can sustain improved air quality and traffic levels, it could mean planned charging measures on polluting vehicles are no longer needed.
On 1 September, cabinet will consider details for a public consultation planned for this autumn on the new proposals for charging zones, to accompany new evidence being collected.
The plan is to set a new deadline of February 2021 for submission of the final business case on the preferred clean air scheme.
Further details on the revised clean air plans are available via www.cleanairforbristol.org.
Main photo by Martin Booth
Read more: More roads to be closed to traffic as part of ‘bold’ transport transformation
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