News / Clean Air Zone
Latest on plans to reduce air pollution in Bristol
Residents and business owners are being urged to play their part in reducing Bristol’s toxic fumes so congestion zone charges are not needed.
The council has launched a public consultation on the latest two clean air zone options – both of which would see polluting private cars charged to enter a small area of the city centre.
This comes after the government rejected proposals for a ban on diesel cars in the centre.
is needed now More than ever
But neither option will be needed if the city can preserve the improvements in air quality seen during the coronavirus pandemic.
As such, Bristol City Council is pleading with citizens to do all they can to cut air pollution so it is not forced to introduce clean air zone (CAZ) charges to meet its legal obligations around air quality.
“We cannot take on the task of delivering clean air alone – we need all of Bristol’s help if we are to protect each other from dangerous pollution and toxic fumes,” said mayor Marvin Rees.
“Everyone faces their own unique set of obstacles in tackling the environmental challenges we all face so we would encourage everyone to look at the changes they can make to their own lifestyles.
“No matter how big or small the change is, it will make a difference if we all work together, and the council is here to help people along their journey. If we unite we can make our city a healthier place for everyone to live.”
The council wants people to consider walking the kids to school at least twice a week, limiting the use of wood-burning stoves, not burning wood on an open fire, getting the bus into the city centre, walking or cycling or getting the bus rather than driving whenever you can, recycling your waste, never burning it, and walking to the shops if you only need a few things.
In the meantime, it is required by government deadlines to consult on two options for a CAZ, should one be needed.
These are:
Option 1 – A Clean Air Zone covering a small area of central Bristol where older, more polluting commercial vehicles and polluting private cars would pay to drive in the zone. This is referred to as a ‘small CAZ D’.
Option 1 – CAZ D – image courtesy of Bristol City Council
Option 2 – Option 1 plus a larger charging zone where older, more polluting commercial vehicles, but not private cars, would be charged to drive in the zone. This is referred to as a ‘medium CAZ C’.
Option 2 – medium CAZ C – image courtesy of Bristol City Council
The government has ordered the council to find the fastest way to get the city’s air pollution to within legal limits.
The authority expects to know “before Christmas” whether it will have to include a charging CAZ in the final business case it is required to submit to government by February next year.
But it wants to avoid charges for drivers, and is pinning its hopes on Bristolians sustaining the air quality improvements seen during the Covid-19 crisis with the help of new measures to encourage people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
The council is drawing on conclusions carried out by researchers at the ClairCity project, which collected local views and found that Bristolians want to contribute to tackling environmental problems.
Professor Enda Hayes, director of UWE Bristol’s Air Quality Management Resource Centre, explained: “Our research shows that citizen involvement in these discussions can spur on citywide action. People want to change but need support from our businesses, workplaces, councils and national government if we want to live with clean air.
“These citizen supported ideas indicate that it’s not just about banning or phasing out polluting vehicles – the conditions have to be created so that citizens can access local amenities without polluting our environment and health.”
Find out more about what you can do to help cut pollution in Bristol and fill out a survey on the CAZ options via www.news.bristol.gov.uk/news/bristol-urged-to-come-together-on-clean-air-day-to-cut-toxic-fumes.
Amanda Cameron is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo by Martin Booth
Read more: Congestion charge ‘might not be necessary’ for Bristol’s clean air plans
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
