Date revealed for when Clean Air Zone in Bristol will go live

Bristol City Council has announced the day that the city’s Clean Air Zone will go live after the move was pushed back by nearly a year.

The scheme, which will see owners of non-compliant cars charged £9 to drive into the city, will officially launch on November 28 - almost 12 months later than originally planned.

Up until today (Wednesday, July 6) no official start date had ever been given, with Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees blaming the Government for a stream of delays at a recent press conference.

But in a statement posted on his Twitter page this afternoon, Mr Rees announced: “After lots of technical work and lengthy negotiations with the Government, Bristol’s Clean Air Zone will start operating this year on November 28.

“Due to the late start date, we are taking the opportunity to push Government to extend exemptions, including for those visiting hospitals, Blue Badge holders and for people working in the Zone earning less than £27,000 a year.”

Mr Rees added that despite the delays, Bristol City Council hoped to achieve ‘compliance’ which requires the city’s air pollution to fall within legal NO₂ limits, by the end of next year.

“This is a major milestone on our journey to clean air,” he went on. “Poor air quality has a major impact on the health of everyone in our city, and the Clean Air Zone will help us to deliver this in 2023.

“The CAZ is just one step while we push for more powers on wood burning and non-mobile machinery.”

It is estimated that when the CAZ goes live in November, three quarters of Bristol drivers won’t be charged as their vehicles are already compliant.

The Council also secured £42million in grants and loans to help people upgrade their vehicle.

You can check if your vehicle is compliant on the Government website.