Bristol City Council agrees city centre diesel car ban

In its efforts to tackle poor air quality, Bristol City Council has agreed to ban privately owned cars from a central zone during the daytime (7am to 3pm) while commercial vehicles will be charged for entering the zone. The plan means that Bristol will become the UK's first city to ban diesel cars from certain parts of the city in an attempt to cut air pollution and meet legal air quality targets

 

Due to start in 2021, the scheme needs to be approved by central government. Air Quality News reports that Bristol wil be asking the government for £113m to fund the measures. For comparison, Leeds was awarded £29m and Birmingham £38m in capital funding for their respective Clean Air Zones (CAZs).

 

The proposals, which will be enforced by a number plate recognition system, mean that taxis and vans will pay a daily charge of £9 and buses and HGVs £100. Bristol City Council says it will launch a scrappage scheme for affected residents and businesses.

 

Private diesel cars will not be charged to enter the wider clean air zone.

 

Bristol City Council hopes that its new plan will enable the city to achieve clean air compliance for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) by 2025.