City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (CBMDC) has opened a consultation into the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) plans. The CAZ will capture coaches and buses that do not meet Euro VI standards. Its anticipated ‘go live’ date is October 2021.
The Bradford Clean Air Zone is defined largely as the area within the A6177 ring road, but it will also extend north along the A650 towards Cottingley.
A daily charge of £50 will be levied on coaches and buses that do not satisfy Euro VI. CBMDC has proposed that some non-compliant coaches subject to the CAZ will be eligible for grants of up to £20,000 each towards replacement or exhaust retrofit.
The consultation additionally solicits views on proposed exemptions for coaches that are operated by SMEs based in Bradford district and for coaches that are undertaking “educational or charity work” within the CAZ.
For buses, grants of up to £18,750 per vehicle are planned to help fund the replacement, retrofit or “refuel” of non-compliant stock. All financial support is subject to government approval.
A questionnaire that is specific to coach and bus operators is part of the consultation. It asks for feedback on a variety of topics relevant to the CAZ, including the above allocation of funding to support a transition to Euro VI. The consultation closes on 27 March.
CBMDC and the Confederation of Passenger Transport have arranged a drop-in session for coach and bus operators to discuss the proposals. It will be held on Thursday 5 March between 1130-1300hrs in Committee Room 3 at Bradford City Hall.
CBMDC says it is working closely with Leeds City Council to try to ensure that as far as possible, its proposals align with plans for a CAZ in Leeds. Doing that “will help road users in both districts by having common standards.”
