Bristol to introduce charging clean air zone
Bristol City Council is planning to introduce a charging clean air zone (CAZ) after modelling showed it is necessary to improve air quality.
The city had been reconsidering a CAZ in light of the changing travel habits and lower air pollution as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic but Mayor Marvin Rees announced during a Facebook live event last week that a small charging CAZ in the city centre will help the city achieve compliance in the shortest possible time.
Rees said: "'The evidence that has come through the modelling suggests we are going to have to implement a small area CAZ D.
"This is in line with our moral responsibility to deliver clean air in the shortest possible time but also that's going to be tested legally because the legal requirement is to get to compliance in the shortest possible time.
"A small area CAZ D seems to be the one coming out of the modelling that says it will provide that route."
Rees added that there were concerns about the impact of introducing a charging zone on household and business incomes, describing the charging zone as "a blunt instrument".
However, the council will be looking at how it can support people through that transition.
The CAZ plans will go before the Bristol City Council cabinet in February before formal submission to Government.
Bristol reconsiders its clean air zone plans
Bristol City Council is looking to introduce alternative options to improve air quality after it said it may scrap plans to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ).