Is Bristol’s Clean Air Zone far reaching enough to tackle air pollution?

Bristol’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is officially operational but questions are already being raised around whether it is comprehensive enough to tackle air pollution and who it will impact.

From Monday, drivers of some of the most polluting vehicles will now face a daily charge to enter the city centre as well, as key routes in and out of Bristol like the Portway.

Personal-use vehicles, taxis and small vans face a daily charge of £9 while non-compliant HGVs, buses and coaches are charged £100 per day. Failure to pay a week after entering the zone will incur a £120 fine, reduced to £60 if paid promptly.

The move has been welcomed by some as an important step towards Bristol’s net-zero targets, with mayor Marvin Rees celebrating the zone as “an important milestone” in cleaning air and “providing support to those who need it most”.

Rob Bryher, from climate action charity Possible, explained how clean air zones are the vital first step in creating healthier and safer cities with fewer cars.

“Right now I feel that Bristol’s future is looking bright and soon, like cities all over the country, it’ll quite literally be able to breathe easier,” he wrote.

“It’s now up to the city council to be brave, taking the clean air zone as the first step, learning from other cities and using this as an opportunity and to introduce bold, further measures to bring the city into a climate-secure future.”

But others are worried whether the city’s public transport alternatives and cycling infrastructure are robust enough to absorb travellers swapping their cars for greener alternatives.

“So what strikes me about this as someone moving to Bristol, hoping to not have to buy a car, is what is the alternative? There is no decent public transport or cycling infrastructure for people to use instead of driving,” asked Kath Rothwell on Twitter.

Others raised concerns that it disproportionately impacts Bristol’s most vulnerable.

Lesley Bowman said: “It discriminates against people who can’t walk very far or cycle. The exemption for hospital appointments ends in March for most people. Not everyone can change their car. Our car is exempt in Bath, but not Bristol. Bus services are extremely unreliable.”

Green councillor for Central ward Ani Stafford-Townsend added: “The CAZ zone has the highest density of residential properties in the city. Over 30,000 live within it, more just on the boundary, including some of the most deprived of Bristol.”

Bristol’s CAZ stretches from the Portway to Bower Ashton and Bristol Temple Meads to St Paul’s – image: Bristol City Council

One Twitter user wrote that more radical ideas are needed, suggesting to “ban cars instead of charging them. Banning reduces pollution, charging is just a money making scheme that doesn’t work.”

Matt the Pugh replied: “Ban cars you say? Interesting. How would traders work? How would builders? How will shops cope? As well as a shoppers? It’s already working and it’s reduced traffic in certain areas, but obviously has created pinch points elsewhere. Agreed though it does generate more tax.”

Aden Harris wrote: “Hopefully this is only the start given that it fails to stop 75% of cars getting into the centre.”

Main photo: Betty Woolerton

Read next:

• ‘Caged by the Clean Air Zone’
• ‘Bristol’s Clean Air Zone is a ruse to maximise council revenue’
• Bristol residents react to the Clean Air Zone

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