Birmingham City Council has soft-launched its Clean Air Zone today (1 June) confirming that it will not require drivers to pay the daily fee and they will not pursue enforcement until 14 June.
The two-week grace period has been introduced to allow people to familiarise themselves with the new rules and consider alternative routes to entering the Clean Air Zone.
From 14 June 2021 the owners of non-compliant vehicles will be required to pay the daily fee unless a valid exemption is in place. Cars, taxis and LGVs which do not meet the Clean Air Zone emission standard will be charged £8 a day and non-compliant coaches, buses and HGVs will be charged £50 per day.
Drivers can pay six days in advance of their visit, the day of their visit and six days after the day of their visit, giving a total payment window of 13 days. Payments can be paid online using the Government’s payment portal.
A range of support measures have been brought in to support those immediately impacted by the changes. This includes temporary exemption permits and financial incentives as well as the Heavy Duty Vehicle (HDV Fund).
Birmingham is the second CAZ to be launched this year, following Bath. Other major cities are soon set to follow, including Bristol, Bradford, Portsmouth, Greater Manchester, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside, whilst Oxford is set to introduce a trial. London’s more stringent Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is due to be extended to an area 18-times larger than the original Low Emission Zone by 25 October 2021.
The BVRLA has launched a Clean Air Zone awareness campaign to support members with their communications to colleagues and customers.
