Drivers on low income

Drivers on low income exempt from Bristol (CAZ) charges

Thousands of motorists will be charged a £9 daily fee to enter the Clean Air Zone in Bristol if the council’s plans are approved by the Government. However some drivers of air polluting vehicles will be able to apply for a one-year exemption before they have to start paying the Clean Air Zone fee, and others will not have to pay at all. Bristol City Council must have a Clean Air Zone in place by October 29th 2021 and, after years of planning and consultation, it has decided to seek permission for a small clean air zone in the city centre. Bristol City Council had hoped to avoid forcing drivers of polluting vehicles to pay to enter the Clean Air Zone (CAZ), but said in a statement online that it must impose charges to meet a legal obligation to reduce traffic and air pollution to within legal limits in the shortest possible time frame.

However charges will only apply to diesel vehicles that are Euro 5 standard and below, so roughly 2014 and older, and to petrol vehicles that are Euro 3 and below, so about 2006 and older. Those people who live in the Clean Air Zone as well as Bristol-based Blue Badge holders will be able to apply for a one-year exemption before they have to start paying a fee.

People on low incomes will also be able to apply for a one-year exemption if they have to drive in and out of the zone to get to work. This group – individuals earning less than £24,000 a year and no more than £12.45 per hour – will also be prioritised for financial support packages under the council’s proposals. The council is also proposing exemptions for people who have to go to hospital for admissions and appointments or to visit-loved ones regularly. 20 Mayor Rees said in a online statement: “We’re looking at a scheme with hospitals for families that have to be frequent visitors to loved ones, particularly children, for example, in hospital.” Most of the exemptions are for one year to allow time for people to upgrade to cleaner vehicles and take advantage of financial support and scrappage schemes.

Vehicles such as ambulances, police and fire engines and disabled passenger vehicle tax classes 78 and 85, motorcycles, and classic cars are automatically exempt under CAZ rules set out by the Government. Bristol city council estimates about 74,700 out of 258,000 vehicles would be charged to enter the zone each day. They estimate around 27 per cent of private cars are not compliant with emission standards and will attract a clean air charge. Similarly, they believe about 39% of LGVs, 25% of HGVs and 5% of buses and coaches will have to pay a daily fee. The council is currently asking the government for money to provide financial support packages for households and businesses to upgrade their vehicles.

Mayor Rees said online: “We have a moral responsibility to deliver clean air, we recognise that, but never forget we have a legal responsibility [to deliver] compliant air in the shortest possible time. “We will be putting mitigations in place to support people through the transition… We don’t want the burden falling disproportionately on people who are most vulnerable and we don’t want to undermine jobs within the city."

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A survey undertaken by Bristol Bites Back Better, a campaign empowering Bristolians to build a fairer, healthier and more sustainable food system in the city, has revealed that nearly 50% of respondents would like to see more opportunities for communities to come together over food, including shared community meals, group cooking, local food markets and local events allowing people to share and learn about different cultures.

A further 23% highlighted that they would be inspired to get involved in activities that would tackle the issue of food equality, including surplus food swapping with neighbours and the distribution of food to support vulnerable people in the city.

The outcome of these initial survey findings collated by Bristol Bites Back Better has already prompted the team to organise weekly virtual communal meals across March to provide an opportunity for connection over food that many seem to be missing.

Joy Carey, Strategic Coordinator from Bristol Bites Back Better says: “This desire for connection with others demonstrated in our survey findings is unsurprising after lockdown has both limited that activity, and also shed light on its importance and value. Food is such a powerful tool in bringing people together and we know that communities across Bristol value occasions where food is shared as vital moments to connect, learn and support each other. Food is deeply connected to the things that will drive our recovery from the pandemic. We’re eager to understand what the people of Bristol want for their city’s food future as we know it will impact us all.”

The campaign’s ‘Join the Conversation’ survey page allows anyone living in Bristol to share their hopes and ideas for the future of food in their community, or across the city. People can also share their thoughts and start discussions by using the #BiteBackBetter hashtag on social media.

This input from Bristol citizens will inform city-wide thinking about how Bristol can create a resilient food future; it will form the basis of a plan that will put food front and centre of Bristol’s recovery from the pandemic and improve food in the city for everyone by 2030.

Commenting on the growing need for a citizen-led food movement in Bristol, Public Engagement Lead for Bristol Bites Back Better, Florence Pardoe, said:

“A resilient food future must be led by all the city’s residents, not just the few who tend to engage in these conversations already.

Throughout the Bristol Bites Back Better campaign we ’ve been lucky enough to have engagement from all corners of our city, but we’re determined to gather more opinions and ideas, as well as to encourage more people along to our virtual events, which provide friendly and informal opportunities for connection over food. By joining the conversation about Bristol’s food future, you can be part of really meaningful change.”

The call for Bristol’s citizens to ‘join the conversation’ through Bristol Bites Back Better is just one of several moves from food organisations around the city to open up the city’s food movement to its residents. Organisations such as Feeding Bristol and St Werburghs City Farm have also been championing citizen engagement, exploring topics such as food equality and diversity through online workshops and door-to-door surveying. Bristol Bites Back Better is a campaign in support of Bristol’s bid to become a Gold Sustainable Food City this year.

The bid will recognise the extraordinary work of individuals and organisations across the city, who are working collaboratively to make food fairer, healthier and more sustainable in Bristol.

Bristol Food Network, Bristol Green Capital Partnership, Bristol City Council and Resource Futures are coordinating the bid and the campaign is sponsored by Essential Trading, GenEco Sustainable Solutions and Lovely Handcrafted Soft Drinks.

For more information and the join the conversatio, visit: https://www.goingforgoldbristol.co.uk/jointheconversation/

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