Today (Monday 28 November 2022) Bristol’s Clean Air Zone went live.
Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees announced the start of the zone this morning, explaining how the zone will work and how to pay a charge if needed.
We share the video and his latest blog below:
Today we have reached an important milestone. Bristol’s Clean Air Zone has officially launched.
We have always sought to reduce air pollution in Bristol to improve our city’s health but we’re also mindful of the financial strain people are under at the moment. We have worked to find a way to clean up our air, while also providing support to those who need it most.
Back in 2021, we secured a package of £42 million funding to help people to find ways to make their journeys in and around our city more sustainable. To date, the council has had over 6,000 applications for financial support such as grants and loans to change or upgrade their vehicles. Over 1,500 applications for temporary exemptions have been approved, mostly to our Blue Badge holders, and over 8,000 active travel offers such as bus tickets and Voi scooter credit have been given out.
I would encourage everyone to try out our bus, train, and park and ride services as an alternative way to travel around Bristol, and we still have free vouchers available to help you give these options a go. We can’t take on the task of delivering clean air alone. We need everyone in Bristol to play their part.
You can visit the council website for more information on how to register your interest, as well as more information about the zone boundary map to help you best plan your journeys.
No vehicles are banned from entering the central zone, but drivers of older and more polluting vehicles will incur a charge. You can check if your vehicle will be charged via www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones. Bristol remains very much open to all residents, visitors and businesses. We’re particularly excited to welcome visitors and tourists into the city during the busy Christmas period. If you have any concerns about which routes to take or need some advice, remember you can email our Travel Advisers on CAZSupport@bristol.gov.uk
Daily charges apply 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), seven days a week, all year round. It’s really important that people remember they will not receive written notification or any kind of alert that they have entered Bristol Clean Air Zone or that a payment is due – this is down to individuals and businesses to manage.
Charges must be paid within six days of the journey via www.gov.uk/clean-air-zones or by calling the Clean Air Zone support line on 0300 029 8888 (Monday to Friday: 8am to 7pm, Saturday: 8am to 2pm). Smartphone users can also pay using free-to-use apps like Caura, but always make sure platforms are trustworthy before entering any personal payment information.
Business owners can sign up to the Business Accounts Feature via GOV.uk, to set up a Bristol-specific account to help manage payment for multiple vehicles entering and exiting the Zone.
Roadside signage will show when you’re entering or approaching the zone. Some signs count down how many miles to go until the zone starts to give you plenty of time to consider your route, and others have a green cloud symbol on, with the letter ‘D’ inside.
Go to the Clean Air for Bristol website to find out more about Bristol’s Clean Air Zone and the small actions you can take to help too.
