The introduction of Bristol's clean air zone will be delayed until the summer of 2022, the city council has announced.
The proposals, which were finally submitted to the government in February after a series of delays, mean older and more polluting vehicles will have to pay to enter the centre of the city.
The local authority was to have its system for charging polluting vehicles in place by October 29 this year, according to BusinessLive' s sister site , but is waiting for the government to formally approve its plans for the zone.
The charges will be in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with buses and coaches facing a cost of 拢100 a day.
The local authority said nearly three-quarters of vehicles (71%) travelling into the zone are already "clean enough" and won鈥檛 be charged.
It has also announced a package of support for businesses and residents to upgrade to cleaner vehicles, including a loans and grants scheme that will be launched in the autumn.
Bristol Clean Air Zone support measures
- 拢2.1m being made available for local bus and coach companies to help them buy cleaner vehicles or upgrade existing vehicles to meet the Clean Air Zone鈥檚 emission standards.
- Over 拢32m made available to help businesses upgrade to cleaner vehicles. Commercial vehicle owners in the zone with existing finance agreements will also be able to apply for a one-year exemption.
- All residents inside the zone with a non-compliant vehicle will be offered a one-year exemption to give them time to apply for financial support to switch to a cleaner vehicle or different way of travelling.
- The plans also include 拢720,000 for a new cycle scheme through Old Market that will provide the missing link on one of the city鈥檚 key cycle routes between the new segregated Baldwin Street cycle lane and the Bristol to Bath Railway Path.
- Free electric bike loans, cycle training, free bus tickets, discounted car club membership and support to buy electric cars will also be available to encourage more people to travel differently and use cleaner more sustainable transport.
- Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) patients and visitors will be exempt from the Clean Air Zone charge.
- Blue Badge holders will be able to apply for a one-year exemption if their vehicle doesn鈥檛 meet the zone鈥檚 emission standards.
- People with a disabled tax class vehicle or disabled passenger tax class vehicle are automatically exempt from the charge.
In 2017, the Government ordered the council to reduce the city鈥檚 toxic NO2 levels to within legal limits as "quickly as possible".
Bristol City Council said it had worked "closely" with the government鈥檚 Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to make sure the city is on track to reduce pollution caused by traffic to within legal limits by 2023.
Mayor Marvin Rees said Bristol had a "moral and legal duty" to deliver clean air in the shortest possible time.
He said: 鈥淭he Clean Air Zone is a complex project. We鈥檙e working closely with government get it right and get the best deal for Bristol residents and businesses.
鈥淲e鈥檝e gained valuable insight from the introduction of Clean Air Zones in other cities and I鈥檓 pleased we鈥檝e been able to strengthen our proposals to provide a significant package of support and give people more time to prepare for the zone."
He added: 鈥淲e don鈥檛 want to charge people, we want to provide the opportunity to work with us 鈥 hopefully, switching to a cleaner vehicle and walking or cycling for shorter journeys as well as using public transport.
鈥淭he Clean Air Zone will clean up the vehicles on our roads and reduce traffic travelling into the city. Alongside ongoing initiatives, it will improve air quality in the city by encouraging more people to choose cleaner ways of travelling."
鈥淥ur new plans will ensure that everyone that needs help on our journey to cleaner air, gets it.鈥
Bristol's Clean Air Zone charges
Only older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to drive in the Clean Air Zone. Charges will not apply to Euro 4, 5 and 6 petrol vehicles (around 2006 upwards) or Euro 6 diesel vehicles (around end of 2015 onwards).
Private petrol cars - 拢9
Private diesel cars - 拢9
Taxis - 拢9
LGVs - 拢9
HGVs - 拢100
Buses - 拢100
Coaches - 拢100
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