yawn environmentalists after us againIt was announced earlier in the month that Bath motorists could soon be charged to drive in the centre of the city in a bid to cut air pollution.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has been given until 2021 to improve air quality in the city and the government could make up to £3 million available to assist.
The local authority has put forward three proposals and is asking residents for their views.
According to the suggested plans, drivers of high emission vehicles would be charged to drive in the city centre.
Bath Preservation Trust - which safeguards the historic character of the city - has called for the highest restrictions (class D) to be enforced to "encourage behavioural change for car users as well as commercial vehicles".
If this goes ahead, drivers of buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, taxis, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles and cars which are pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel would be charged.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: "Bath Preservation Trust is supportive of the proposal by the Council to introduce a Clean Air Zone in Bath (CAZ), particularly because its boundaries take into account the through traffic crossing Cleveland Bridge and exiting the City along the London Road.
"We support the highest category of restriction (category D) in order to encourage behavioural change for car users as well as commercial vehicles.
"Bath traffic results in three problems which can damage the listed buildings and harm the amenity of the World Heritage Site: pollution, congestion and vibrations.
"The CAZ is primarily aimed at the former (pollution) though it is to be hoped that it will also change behaviours of both longer distance drivers and local users.
"While the CAZ is therefore by no means a total solution to the traffic problems of Bath, we hope that this will provide a first step towards providing a number of ‘carrot and stick’ methods to changing behaviours regarding vehicle movements in the city."
The Trust has made two specific requests from the council. It wants automatic number plate recognition to be installed before the charging system is enforced so there will be definitive 'before and after' data.
They are also calling on the council to use some of the income from the zone to fund greener modes of transport such as clean buses, prioritising cycle and walking infrastructure and to strengthen public transport.
What are the three proposals?
Class B Clean Air Zone
Higher-emission buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, taxis and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which are pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel would all be charged when driving through the zone.
This option also includes non-charging options such as additional cycle parking in visible locations, extended walking and cycling priority schemes with a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists, and a reduced residents’ parking permit cost for low emission vehicles.
A review of taxi licensing policy would be made to promote low emission vehicles for Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, and improvements to public transport routes including bus priority, passenger information and waiting facilities.
Variable message signs would be used to promote air quality improvement messages and provide information about parking to reduce unnecessary trips into the city centre.
There would be a “sunset period” to exempt Euro 5 diesel vehicles and the experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for a bus lane on London Road would be replaced with a permanent TRO.
Fuel emissions are going to dictate how much extra car tax you will pay
Fuel emissions are going to dictate how much extra car tax you will pay (Image: Getty Images)
Class C Clean Air Zone
Higher-emission buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, taxis, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and light goods vehicles (LGVs) which are pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel, would be charged.
The non-charging options outlined in the Class B option are also included in this option.
Class D Clean Air Zone
This option would apply a charge to buses, coaches, private hire vehicles, taxis, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles and cars which are pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel.
This option does not include the non-charging option of targeted traffic management or improved bus priority on A367 Wells Road.
There are three additional non-charging options: an expanded proposal to introduce electric cycle hire to the city, a piloted car sharing priority parking areas and an expansion of car club network in Bath.
Councillor Mark Shelford, cabinet member for transport and environment, said: “We want to talk to people not just about the changing element but also about more sustainable ways to travel across Bath and the wider area.”
There are some vehicles that will be exempt from charges in each of the classes.
London Road at the junction with Cleveland Place in Bath (Image: Artur Lesniak)
These are petrol vehicles with Euro 4 or newer emissions rating manufactured from approximately 2006, diesel vehicles with Euro 6 emissions rating manufactured from approximately 2015, fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and vehicles within the disabled passenger tax class.
Councillor Bob Goodman, cabinet member for development and neighbourhoods, added: “We want to strike a balance with a package that can deliver the most benefit to local people in terms of improved air quality, with the least effect on residents and the economy within the deadline to reduce NO2.
“It is important to embrace this and help achieve sustainable improvements for future generations.”
The council is holding a public surgery in the Guildhall on April 18 from 3pm - 7pm where the issues will be discussed.
Places can be booked via the ‘Get Involved section’ on
www.bathnes.gov.uk/breathe.
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