An ASDA shopper received three fines after confusion about the boundary of Bristol's Clean Air Zone. Carol Evans, from Hartcliffe, was caught when exiting the supermarket's car park in Bedminster onto Coronation Road - a road she thought was exempt from the zone.
When the CAZ was first brought in last November, the 170-yard stretch of road was said to be a 'loophole' in the zone that motorists would not be charged for entering. However, by January 2023, drivers with non-compliant vehicles using the Coronation Road exit, to go down the St. John’s route, were receiving fines.
In February the council eventually confirmed that its initial guidance had been incorrect and this was in fact part of the CAZ, so drivers will be fined. But Carol, 62, was unaware despite always using that route to get home from Asda.
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She said: “I have used that exit virtually from the day Asda opened, so I’m a creature of habit basically.” With many now being caught by the system Carol shared her thoughts on how she felt it was ‘a bit like the postcode lottery’.
She explained how she knew people with older cars that don’t get charged for using the zone while others with new cars have to pay up. She said: “My friend’s got a car that’s older than mine, granted it’s petrol, but it's older than mine and she doesn’t get charged.”
The fines related to breaches in January and February. While she has appealed them, she said she was told her reasons ‘weren’t good enough’.
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “Bristol’s Clean Air Zone emissions standards will ensure that the city meets the requirement from the government to bring air pollution within legal limits in the shortest possible time.
“We have always been clear that drivers should use the vehicle checker before travelling to find out if they need to pay a charge for their chosen route. Payment plans are available to help people manage Penalty Charge Notice payments if they are facing financial difficulty.
"Those who think they have received a Clean Air Zone PCN in error or have mitigating circumstances can submit an appeal. Each appeal will be assessed based on its own merit.”
While Carol feels the existing system has its flaws, she expressed how she doesn’t believe it to be a bad idea. She said: “It’s not a bad idea, obviously because I have young grandchildren and I want them to grow up healthy.”
What's been your experience of Bristol's Clean Air Zone? Email darcey.barrett@reachplc.com
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