More detailed information on the reason for the potential delay of the Clean Air Zone is needed, the city's Green Party has said. The party has said the reasons given by the mayor are "concerningly vague".
Earlier this week, mayor Marvin Rees said that the launch of the CAZ will likely be delayed yet again due to a “national issue with bus lanes”. The Clean Air Zone was initially due to come into force in October last year, but has faced repeated delays.
Recently it was expected to be launched this September, but this will now likely be pushed back again due to a change in regulations on bus lanes. The mayor of Bristol said the city council has done “everything we can” and blamed Westminster for the delays.
Read more: Bristol’s Clean Air Zone launch date faces delay due to ‘national issue with bus lanes’
However, Lockleaze councillor David Wilcox, who is the Green Group’s shadow cabinet member for transport and active travel, asked the council to give more information about the delay. He said that clean air and low emissions zones are proven to improve health, reduce traffic and benefit the local economy and that, in the past six years, an estimated 1,800 Bristolians will have died due to Bristol's illegal levels of air pollution.
Mr Wilcox said: “Looking at this track record, the reasons given by the administration for yet another setback are concerningly vague and it’s absolutely vital that they provide more detailed information on the reason for this delay and what effect it will have on those relying on the exemption period.
“The continued uncertainty around the Clean Air Zone start date and unanswered questions are making it harder for people and businesses to prepare and undermining the scheme itself. It didn’t have to be like this – Leeds Council were clear about the launch of their clean air zone and communicated well in advance, resulting in so many people switching away from polluting vehicles that their charging zone wasn’t needed.
“The Mayor has promised the rest of his tenure will be about delivery – clean, breathable air for Bristol should be the bare minimum on this front, and the continued failure to sort this out is an appalling dereliction of basic duty towards Bristolians. Our city is being left choking in traffic fumes while other cities like Birmingham have pressed on and established working zones which are already working to improve air quality.”
No specific date has been given for when the Clean Air Zone will launch, despite it eventually affecting tens of thousands of drivers in Bristol. Charges would be set at £9 a day for smaller vehicles and £100 for larger vehicles.
Bristol City Council is legally required to introduce measures to cut harmful air pollution from vehicles driving in the city centre. Exemptions had been put in place for some drivers until the end of 2022, but these will likely not continue through into 2023.
