No decision has been made about delaying the start date for Bath’s clean air zone.
Bath and North East Somerset Council was due to hear back last month – just as the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the UK – if central government would cover the £18million implementation cost.
Leeds’ zone was due to come into effect in September but has been suspended ‘until further notice’ because of the crisis, while Birmingham’s has been delayed by a technical glitch.
Bath’s clean air zone is set to be switched on on 4th November, with charging being imposed on the worst polluting vehicles except for private cars.
Council leader Dine Romero said: “We remain in regular contact with central government regarding all projects and programmes that are due to be delivered over the coming months and await any guidance that will be forthcoming from ministers to help formulate our plans.
“The funding settlement forms part of the overall project and will be an element to be agreed as part of the overall discussion.
“We are also aware that both Birmingham and Leeds, the two cities that were due to go live in the summer of 2020, have publicly delayed until 2021, but at this time no decision has been made for Bath.”
The council has so far secured £5.95million for parts of the scheme including traffic management in Queen Square, but the full capital costs could run to £24million.
It was due to hear from Government last month if the funding would be awarded.
Deputy leader Richard Samuel, the cabinet member for resources, said in February there could be a “fundamental rethink” of the clean air zone plans if the sum handed over by Government was dramatically lower than the council had asked for.
Bath’s clean air zone is being introduced to bring nitrogen dioxide levels within the legal limit of 40 micrograms per cubic metre within the shortest time possible, and by 2021 at the latest.
However, fewer people on the roads amid the pandemic has had a major impact on air quality.
Research by the BBC Shared Data Unit found levels of nitrogen dioxide at the Bath A4 Roadside station averaged 45.5 micrograms per cubic metre 19th and 26th March in 2019.
That dropped to 21.4 micrograms per cubic metre between 25th and 31st March this year – a reduction of more than 50 per cent after people were asked to only make essential journeys.
Once Bath’s clean air zone is in place, the worst polluting taxis, private hire vehicles, minibuses, LGVs and vans will be charged £9 a day to enter. Buses, coaches and lorries will have to pay £100.
The fees will apply once in every 24-hour period (midnight to midnight), seven days a week.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
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