A man has claimed Bristol’s Clean Air Zone was ‘the final nail in the coffin’ as he buys a new car after receiving two fines. Trevor Wright, from Suffolk, was visiting Bristol along with his partner to watch his beloved Norwich City play Bristol City.
It was back in February when he drove through the zone - having decided to make a weekend of their trip to the city, Trevor and his partner stayed the night and popped into the centre for lunch at Harvey Nichols the next day. Being the couple’s first time visiting Bristol, both were unaware of the system that came into force last November.
They said they had no prior warning they had done anything wrong until two fines for £120 each came through their letterbox some six weeks later, at the beginning of the Easter holidays. Trevor said: “I never saw any signs, my partner never any signs and like I say we had absolutely no idea whatsoever.”
The 58-year-old, who has appealed the two fines but is yet to hear back, says he doesn’t disagree with the idea but had he known in advance he would have done things a little differently. He said: “I’m not against the idea in principle, but certainly if I had known, no I wouldn’t have taken the car into the city, no way. So in that sense we certainly wouldn’t have visited the city I suppose.”
Trevor shared his thoughts saying there should be a way for people to get an email or text notification, much like if you drive over the Dartford crossing. He shared that he wouldn’t mind paying the £9 daily fee to enter the CAZ but said: “To be fined for something that I had absolutely no idea that I was doing and with no notification at the time in which you're supposed to pay, something in the system wrong is somewhere.
“It seems like the tourists are going to get hit a lot more than what the local people are.” Trevor also stressed that businesses in and around Bristol, who are holding events people from out of the city may attend, need to make people aware of the Clean Air Zone in advance.
He said: “Surely the big organisations have a responsibility that bring you to Bristol in the first place?” Bristol City Council was approached for a comment but has not yet responded.
There are signs at several entry points to the CAZ advising drivers of its existence, and the electronic signage on key routes also often displays CAZ warning notices. In March, when another Bristol visitor complained of receiving CAZ fines, a council spokesperson said: "Bristol’s Clean Air Zone emissions standards will ensure that the city meets the requirement from 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. 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."
What's been your experience of Bristol's Clean Air Zone? Email darcey.barrett@reachplc.com
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