A consultation has been launched on proposals to change Bath’s Clean Air Zone so that Euro VI HGVs over 12 tonnes that enter the area will be charged.
The boundary of Bath’s clean air zone
People have until Tuesday 7th February 2023 to comment on plans to introduce the additional charge, together with associated local exemptions.
The proposal, if agreed, would see the Clean Air Zone Charging Order varied to introduce a £50 charge for Class N3 Euro VI diesel HGVs which enter the charging scheme area.
This is lower than the existing charge of £100 for non-compliant Class N3 Euro V diesel HGVs and below, in recognition of the need to strike a balance between encouraging further improvements in the HGV fleet and operators sending older, higher polluting HGVs into the city.
This would be a local charge, sitting outside the national Clean Air Zone Framework, to support the council’s aims of going further to reduce vehicular demand on road space, protect road infrastructure and conserve the Bath World Heritage Site setting, and respond to the climate and ecological emergencies.
HGVs weighing under 12 tonnes would be unaffected by the variation.
Considerable fleet improvements have already been made by owners and operators of heavier HGVs in response to the Clean Air Zone and in recognition of this, and with a view to protecting local small and medium-sized businesses and their supply chains, the proposed charging mechanism would be supported by time-limited local exemptions, based on feedback from the consultation.
There would also be a period of soft enforcement to help embed the change. These exemptions would complement the existing exemptions for hybrid, electric and alternatively fuelled vehicles.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport, said: ”We want to hear people’s views on this proposal to charge Class N3 Euro 6 diesel Heavy Goods Vehicles by varying the Clean Air Zone’s Charging Order.
“The Clean Air Zone, which we introduced in March 2021, is part of a package of measures to improve Bath’s air quality and it is making a difference.
“We are now widening the scope of improvements across the city of Bath to include work on protecting our road infrastructure, historic bridges and conserving our World Heritage Site setting by reducing the levels of vehicular congestion and traffic.
“We are intending to use the legal mechanism of the Clean Air Zone Charging Order to enable us to introduce a charge of £50 for N3 Euro 6 diesel HGVs which travel into and through the city, however, we are aware that varying the Order will have an impact on owners and operators of HGVs and business and would look to work with them on a package of support.”
Charges would apply 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Any HGV operators based within designated postal codes would be exempt from charges for a period of two years.
A report before the council’s cabinet, which met on 10th November and agreed the consultation, followed a decision taken by the council’s cabinet in December 2021 asking for a feasibility assessment on varying the Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) Charging Order 2021 so that all Euro VI HGVs over 12 tonnes become chargeable under the scheme for the benefit of air quality and the amenity of the CAZ area.
You can find the consultation on the council’s website here.
