Because Bristol’s air does not comply with legal standards, Bristol City Council (BCC) has a legal obligation to look at developing a Clean Air Zone for Bristol. In July 2017, the Government formally directed Bristol City Council to:
- By 31 March 2018 undertake a feasibility study and identify options which will deliver compliance with legal limits for nitrogen dioxide in the shortest possible time; and
- By 31 December 2018 to identify a preferred option, including value for money considerations and implementation arrangements.
However, there are fears that that the City Council will miss the deadline for identifying a preferred option and submitting the Outline Business Case (OBC).
TRESA is, therefore, asking for an update from:
- our local councillor, Cllr Jon Wellington (cllr.jon.wellington@bristol.gov.uk)
- Cllr Kye Dudd, Cabinet Member for Waste, Energy, Regulatory Services & Sport (cllr.kye.dudd@bristol.gov.uk)
- the Mayor’s office (mayor@bristol.gov.uk)
- and Air Quality Bristol (air.quality@bristol.gov.uk).
We will let you know what responses we receive, but please also make your own enquiries if you have concerns – and let us know how you get on.
In the meantime, see below for information about the the measures under consideration.
• Option 1 – package of 16 complementary measures
• Option 2 – Medium CAZ (C) with 12 complementary measures
• Option 3 – Medium CAZ (D) with 11 complementary interventions
• Option 4 – Small CAZ (C) with 12 complementary measures
• Option 5 – Small CAZ (D) with 11 complementary measures
Four of the options include a “charging” CAZ. Class C is all vehicles excluding cars, Class D is all vehicles. No decision has been taken on which option will be implemented as this is what the technical work will determine.
The complementary measures in option 1 are listed below. Some of these are included in options 2 – 5 too.
1. Development of new and / or improved cycle paths to encourage more active travel
2. Introduction and enforcement of anti‐idling zones for buses in the city centre
3. Increased Euro Standard requirements for taxis and private hire vehicles in licensing policy
4. Provision of retrofit grants for taxi, private hire and LGV drivers
5. Enforcement of mandatory compliance for buses, taxis and private hire vehicles for bus lanes
6. Introduction of variable parking tariffs in the Council owned car parks to discourage polluting
7. vehicles and / or incentivise take up of electric vehicles
8. Traffic management measures to relocate queues on Newfoundland Way southbound to M32 north of Junction 2
9. Retrofitting of Council and privately‐owned waste vehicles
10. Expansion of Car Club to areas of the City with high level of ‘uncompliant’ vehicles
11. Optimisation of traffic signal timings across the city
12. Introduction of further Bus Priority Schemes
13. Introduction of subsidised (e.g. free) bus travel for certain demographic or income groups
14. Restrictions on goods vehicles movements in City Centre and / or AQMA during peak hours
15. Targeted traffic management measures on Rupert Street and Bedminster Down Road
16. Soft traffic gating, including real time traffic management system, across the City
17. Prohibition of diesel cars from polluted parts of the city
These packages will be assessed in terms of their effectiveness to deliver compliance quickly and other aspects such as impact on low income households, public health, impact on business, displacement of traffic etc. This technical work will then feed into the next business case the Outline Business Case (OBC). BCC aims to submit the OBC in late 2018 .
When they submit the OBC it will recommend a “preferred scheme”. At this point they will also submit bids to the government to implement the scheme and to fund mitigation measures that will reduce the impact of the chosen scheme on specific groups. These groups and the mitigation will be determined through the ongoing technical work and engagement activity.
Once the OBC is approved, BCC will then study the preferred scheme in even more detail, consult on the scheme and further develop the initial bids to government to fund the scheme and mitigation measures. They will also begin to procure the necessary infrastructure and systems.
The Final Business Case (FBC) will present a fully costed and assessed preferred scheme with funding confirmed and consultation completed. When it is approved, they will proceed with procuring and delivering the scheme or package of measures during 2019 and 2020.