A NEW Clean Air Zone could be in place in Bradford by the start of next year.
The plan, set to come before Bradford Council on March 2, would see the most polluting commercial vehicles charged up to £50 a day to enter an area that takes in much of the city centre and Bradford to Shipley corridor.
But what is a clean air zone and what does it mean? Here are a few details:
What is a Clean Air Zone?
A clean air zone is defined an area where targeted action is taken to improve air quality.
It can be confined to a single road or a part of a city. In Bradford the proposed clean air zone will cover much of the city centre.
This can include an area in which vehicles can be charged or fined for entering.
Why is the Government introducing Clean Air Zones?
The Government has a long term strategy to improve air quality across the country by discouraging the use of older, more polluting, vehicles and has a short term goal to reduce the number of areas in the UK where air pollution breaches legal limits.
Plans Clean Air Zone for Leeds were scrapped in October last year when it was found to be no longer needed, according to a joint review by Leeds City Council and central government.
How will Clean Air Zones be introduced?
Local authorities are responsible for the implementation of clean air zones.
Each Council was asked to create an Air Quality Improvement Plan and submit it to Government by March 2018.
Once approved, the local authority can receive funding to help set up the zone.
What vehicles will be charged by the Clean Air Zones?
According to the Gov.uk website, there are four types of Clean Air Zone, classes A-D:
- A: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles
- B: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles
- C: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses
- D: Buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, vans, minibuses, cars, the local authority has the option to include motorcycles
Taxi drivers in Bradford will have to pay a daily charge (from midnight to midnight) to enter the Clean Air Zone in the city unless they have a Euro 6 Diesel (Hackney Carriage) or a Euro 5/6 Petrol Hybrid Standard (Private Hire Vehicle), or electric taxi. These standards include taxis carrying 5 or more passengers.
Meanwhile, a van or HGV driver will have to pay a daily charge (from midnight to midnight) to enter the Clean Air Zone unless they too have a Euro 6 Diesel, a Euro 4 Petrol, LPG or electric engine.
Bradford will be introducing a Class C zone.
How much will it cost to enter a Clean Air Zone?
In Bradford the proposed charges are
Buses & Coaches = £50
HGV = £50
LGV, including minibus = £9
Taxi (Hackney or Private Hire) = £12.50
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