Thursday 6 February 2020

Online vehicle checker to help businesses prepare for clean air zones

A new online service aimed at helping drivers and businesses prepare for the introduction of clean air zones has been launched.

The vehicle checker provides information on the charges within the clean air zones and allows drivers to find out if they will be affected when driving the most polluting vehicles in Birmingham and Leeds.

Leeds City Council is introducing a ‘Class B’ clean air zone later this year which will mean some older, polluting buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and high goods vehicles (HGVs) will be charged to drive within the zone.

Birmingham City Council is also bringing in a ‘Class D’ charging zone later this year which will also apply to some vans and private cars.

Other local authorities including Bath and Sheffield will also be implementing clean air zones in 2020 and 2021 and will also be responsible for setting the charges.

The government has provided around £60 million to Leeds and Birmingham to retrofit buses and support businesses and drivers affected by the charge.

A statement from the Department for Transport and Defra states: “Air pollution has improved significantly in recent decades but we recognise there is more to do and local authorities are taking forward clean air zones to reduce the use of polluting vehicles.

“Tackling high pollution levels is a serious challenge for communities across the UK which is why the government is providing financial and expert support to local authorities to help them clean up their air.”

The government plans ban the sale of new diesel and petrol vehicles from 2035, five years earlier than previously planned.