Bath planning for November start date, while Tyneside looks set to begin in 2021, plans show
Bath and Tyneside have each moved forward with plans for the introduction of their respective Clean Air Zones (CAZs).
In Bath, a city centre CAZ is proposed to commence on 4 November. Coaches and buses that do not meet Euro VI standards will be subject to a £100 daily charge. £9 per day will be levied on operators of non-compliant M1 and M2 minibuses, Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) says.
BANES has submitted its plans to the government and hopes they will be approved by 14 February.
It is “working closely with bus operators to help them to secure funding from the government” to retrofit or repower existing fleets, according to a report on the CAZ public consultation. BANES anticipates that all local buses will be compliant by the time the CAZ is introduced.
For coaches, the report says that financial support for upgrades will be available to operators in the BANES area and those of neighbouring local authorities. More information will be released when it is available.
Tyneside plans to introduce its CAZ in 2021. Non-Euro VI coaches and buses will be subject to a £50 daily charge to enter. The CAZ’s extent has been substantially reduced from that originally proposed. It now captures Newcastle city centre and four bridges over the River Tyne.
Confirmation of Tyneside CAZ funding provisions for upgrading existing vehicles is awaited, but money will be available subject to government approval. It is proposed that up to £16,000 per vehicle will be made available for non-compliant coaches and buses, according to CAZ plans.
Among exemptions being considered is one to cover pre-Euro VI hybrids. Additionally, a sunset period will apply to vehicles awaiting installation of retrofit equipment.
