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Clean Air Zones for northern cities face delays
A combination of a scarcity of new compliant vehicles, rising costs and insufficient government funding is leading to delays in the introduction of Clean Air Zones (CAZs) across the north of England.
While the first three CAZs are now in operation in Bath, Birmingham and Portsmouth, regional authorities across the north of England have sought to defer the introduction of Clean Air Zones (CAZ) in their areas.
As reported in Logistics Magazine last month (10 March 2022), the leaders of Greater Manchester have requested that CAZ charges are scrapped on all vehicles, following strong concern from businesses based in the region. With the scheme now under review, Greater Manchester leaders have agreed that no vehicles should be charged in the CAZ.
Newcastle City Council (NCC) has also sought a delay to the start of its CAZ. Originally scheduled to be introduced in July 2022, the City Council has proposed a delay to this start date. However, the council is yet to receive an official response from ministers to its proposals for a Class C CAZ which were submitted to government in October 2021.
The business case for Sheffield’s CAZ was approved in outline in February 2020. However, following consultation feedback, Sheffield City Council has asked government for a far larger funding pot to be made available. Aiming to launch its financial support schemes and exemptions application process by the end of this summer, its CAZ is expected to be introduced early next year.
Natalie Chapman, Head of Policy, Logistics UK, said: “Rising fuel and other costs are placing an ever-increasing burden on operators that deliver into our city centres. This is compounded by a scarcity of semiconductor chips and other components leading to fewer suitable compliant commercial vehicles being available in the market. Given this extraordinary set of circumstances, the request by some local authorities for greater flexibility with the implementof their Clean Air Zones seems to be a sensible response.
“At Logistics UK we continue to campaign for an approach that balances the need to improve air quality in our cities with the need to ensure that they remain supplied with essential goods and services.”
To discover the latest on Clean Air Zones plans, read Logistics UK’s members-only briefing note for April 2022.
*www.logistics.org.uk/urban
Published On: 21/04/2022 16:00:42
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