Legal NO2 limits could still be a decade away for Bristol

It could take another decade for Bristol to reduce harmful nitrogen dioxide (NO2) to legal levels, according to the latest data.

The council has published new information that reveals of the two clean air proposals currently being considered, option two – a ban on all diesel vehicles in the city centre between 7 am and 3pm – would reach compliance on all roads by 2028.

Option one, which includes installing a bus lane on the M32, a targeted diesel ban on the roads surrounding the BRI, and a charging scheme for polluting vehicles excluding private cars, would meet the required levels on all roads by 2029.

The latter approach would reduce NO2 on some roads quicker than option two and because of how close together the dates are, the council says more technical modelling on each option is needed to reach a definite view on which is best.

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Read more: Rees unveils two clean air options for Bristol

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Bristol City Council is legally bound to reach compliance in the shortest time possible and has stated the “unexpected predicted lateness of the overall compliance dates” has prompted a further review of available options.

A consultation on the proposed options started on July 1, before the latest technical data was available, and continues until Monday, August 12. If an option is found which increases the speed of compliance, the council says it would consider the need to consult people further.

Map of the proposed clean air zone options for Bristol

The data also reveals that certain streets, including Church Road and Marlborough Street are expected to take longer than others to reach compliance, with some significant reductions anticipated in Upper Maudlin Street as early as 2021 under option one.

Mayor Marvin Rees said: “The latest technical work shows the scale and complexity of reducing air pollution in Bristol in the shortest time possible.

“We cannot solve this problem instantly, as much as we’d like to. It’s going take widespread, progressive improvement across the city, involving everyone.

“The data indicates, as expected, some locations will take longer than others to reach legal levels, but this doesn’t mean air quality will not be continually improving in Bristol. We remain committed to implementing a solution as soon as we possibly can.

He urged people to participate with the consultation, adding: “Of course, this process is part of a much wider collection of actions we are taking to tackling the issue of air quality.

“We continue to press government for the investment, legislation and focus we need to make it easier rather than more difficult to deliver meaningful change.”

NO2 legal compliance table for Bristol roads. Data from Bristol City Council

The two options currently on the table are already proving controversial.

Councillors at an overview and scrutiny management board last week aired concerns about a ‘blanket approach’, instead calling for a sliding scale of fines proposed for drivers of older, more polluting vehicles.

Liberal Democrat group leader Gary Hopkins said: “We have people who have vehicles which are just beyond the level, and we have others that are massively non-compliant.

“We’re going to be charging them exactly the same amount of money and that to my mind does not seem logical.”

Chair of the scrutiny board, Conservative councillor Geoff Gollop, agreed, saying that the approach seemed “very inequitable”.

At the meeting, the architects of Bristol’s clean air zone plans said it could be possible to differentiate using automatic number plate recognition technology.

In the air quality directive, the European Union has set limits for NO2 to protect people’s health. The annual average of NO2 must not exceed 40 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3).

In the latest technical work, predicted pollution levels are published for both options the council is consulting on at nine locations in Bristol, which currently record illegal NO2 levels.

The council has promised the government it will identify its preferred option and submit its outline plan business case by the end of September and its full business case in December.

Missing that deadline would mean it would have to pay back £1.65million it has received from government to develop proposals.

Drop-in consultation sessions are being held on the following dates:

Marksbury Road Library: Wednesday, July 24, 2.30pm-7.30pm.

Malcolm X Community Centre: Tuesday, July 30, 2.30pm-7.30pm

City Hall (Vestibule): Tuesday, August 6, 2.30pm-6.30pm

Additional reporting by Amanda Cameron, local democracy reporter for Bristol

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