Bristol’s clean air zone (CAZ) has launched today.
The Class D CAZ charges older and more polluting vehicles to enter the boundary, which covers a small central area of the city and the Portway.
People will not receive written notification or any kind of alert that they have entered Bristol’s CAZ or that a payment is due. Instead, individuals and businesses are responsible for managing this.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees said: “What an incredible milestone we’ve achieved today, launching Bristol’s clean air zone to help create a city that is healthier for everyone to grow up, live and work in.
“We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve the city’s health, but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment.
“We have taken our time to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most. Temporary exemptions and financial support are still available, and I urge people to check if they’re eligible.”
To date, Bristol City Council has had more than 6,000 applications for financial support such as grants and loans to change or upgrade vehicles.
More than 1,500 applications for temporary exemptions have been approved, mostly to Blue Badge holders, and more than 8,000 active travel offers such as bus tickets and Voi scooter credit have been given out.
Daily charges for the Bristol CAZ apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, all year round, and must be paid within six days of travel.
From today, Bristol City Council will send penalty charge notices (PCNs) to people who drive non-compliant vehicles in the CAZ and do not pay the appropriate daily charge.
However, for the next six weeks, people will be given the option of a ‘Special Payment Offer’, which gives seven additional days to pay the appropriate daily charge for that journey.
The charge is £9 for private cars, taxis and light goods vehicles and £100 for heavy goods vehicles, buses and coaches. If the charge is paid, the remaining penalty charge of £120 will be cancelled.
Failure to pay this daily charge will result in a full Penalty Charge Notice of £120, or £60 if paid within 14 days, as well as the outstanding daily charge.
Bristol City Council is encouraging drivers in Bristol and surrounding areas to look out for roadside signage showing when they are entering or approaching the zone.
Some signs count down how many miles to go until the zone starts and others have a green cloud symbol on, with the letter D inside.
