The lead in period for the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) has been extended. Instead of being introduced in January, the CAZ will be launched in Spring 2022.
This will allow businesses more time to use the Clean Air Funding available and upgrade their vehicles. This includes a new £1.7m fund to increase the electric vehicle grants available for taxis.
It will also provide more time for council systems to integrate with the Government’s national IT infrastructure which manages all Clean Air Zones across the country. The Council will make an announcement early in the New Year with the confirmed go-live date.
Government has instructed Bradford to introduce a Class C CAZ which may affect commercial vehicles, including buses, coaches, lorries, vans and taxis, however, passenger cars are not affected.
The intention is to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels and improve air quality across the District, as quickly as possible. Health research in Bradford shows that the largest health benefits will be felt by the poorest communities in the City.
Preparations for the CAZ are well underway with over 16km of new digital ducting introduced in the District and all the CAZ perimeter enforcement cameras installed, which are now ready to go live.
The Council has provided funding to ensure that all buses accessing the CAZ will be compliant, with further plans to introduce electric buses in the District. A further £7.4m of funding has been provided which will see heavy goods vehicles (HGV) registered in the District being upgraded to CAZ standard.
Funding has also seen 60% of our licensed taxis already upgraded to CAZ standard. The £10.4m Clean Air Van & Minibus Fund is currently live on the Breathe Better Bradford website, providing grants of up to £4,500 to upgrade vehicles in the District to the correct standard.
Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places said:
“The Government has directed that Bradford district should have a Clean Air Zone and subsequently the Council has administered millions of pounds worth of grants to businesses to support them with the transition.
"The Council has had a lot of positive feedback from businesses who are being helped to upgrade their vehicles.
"However, there is a national shortage of compliant vans and lorries, with many companies reporting delays into next year for the delivery of their new vehicles.
"We have also taken into account the potential impact that new COVID restrictions could have on businesses as they adapt to the CAZ. This extended lead in period to the implementation of the CAZ will therefore assist businesses in making preparations.
“The Council is providing the most extensive exemptions programme of any CAZ authority, with businesses and residents allowed to exempt certain vehicles.
"This is possible because around 85% of commercial vehicles that are expected to enter the CAZ will be from outside the District. The Bradford Clean Air Exemptions Programme will be launched early in the new year.
"If you are interested in this programme, then you can register your interest on the Breathe Better Bradford website and the Council will notify everyone once the scheme is launched.”
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