The news that there may well be even more delay to the implementation of Bristol’s Clean Air Zone have sparked renewed calls for the entire project to be scrapped.
Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees told a press conference on Wednesday that there could well be some more delays to the project - because of changes to the laws regarding bus lanes that could impact on how the CAZ operates in the city.
But that announcement has been met by incredulity among some Bristol Live readers, with others calling for the idea to be scrapped.
Read more: Bristol Clean Air Zone delayed again
Commenting on the article on the Bristol Live website, Dba questioned whether Bristol was ready for the Clean Air Zone in the first place, saying it was ‘obvious’ the scheme was going to be delayed.
Bristol Live did report at the end of April that Mayor Marvin Rees promised signs marking the Clean Air Zone would start being put up in Bristol, with the scheme 'on track' to start in September, but Dba pointed out that hasn't happened. “It’s summer and not one new camera has been put up on entry into the CAZ,” they wrote.
“So without this new issue I don’t think Bristol was ready for (a) summer 2022 launch anyway. I suspect by the time it is implemented it’ll cost £15 to enter, they’ll have to make up for two years’ lost revenue somehow,” they predicted.
Others questioned whether the CAZ would ever happen, pointing out that a similar scheme in Manchester is still up in the air, with many in the city saying that they could achieve their cleaner air targets without the need to charge vehicles.
Hotandnot wrote on the Bristol Live website: “The mayor’s explanation is incoherent and doesn’t explain why other cities are going ahead. It’s not good enough that air quality is so bad in Bristol.”
And Catlady19 was one of many who said the scheme should be scrapped. “Instead of just delaying it, scrap this daft and unworkable idea altogether!” she wrote.
On the Bristol Live Facebook page, Jamie Dunlop said the idea should be scrapped. “They need to cancel it altogether - nothing but (a) money making scheme. Families are gonna suffer and the city centre will become a ghost town. Traffic will be better in town, but worse around the zone as people will clog up those roads, meaning the pollution will be there. (It) makes no sense, unless the whole of Bristol becomes a CAZ - then everyone will be worse off.”
Bev Reeves questioned whether the CAZ would work anyway. “This isn’t a clean air zone, as vehicles will drive further resulting in more pollution,” she said. “Air doesn’t stay in one place. This is just another excuse to run us dry, we already pay enough to own a vehicle. Next we will be charged to breath,” she added.
Luena Holliday said she also wanted the scheme dropped. “Let’s hope it’s delayed forever. The clean air zone will only create more traffic, and more pollution in the rest of the city. There’s no infrastructure to support it, public transport remains shocking. Fix the buses and give people proper alternatives before putting this nonsensical scheme in place,” she said.
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