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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If the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted anything it is that there still exists a large equality issue within society surrounding education. Lack of access to devices used for learning at home is a big issue in the age of home schooling, indeed Ofcom estimates that around 9% of UK children do not have access to a laptop or desktop device at home. This was also the case for a handful of young people on the Bristol Bears Community Foundation and Premiership Rugby HITZ programme, some of this year’s cohort were forced into completing their work and assignments on their mobile phones – making learning more difficult. HITZ is Premiership Rugby’s award-winning education and employability programme which works with over 2,000 14 to 18-yearolds across England every year. BBCF have been delivering the HITZ programme for two years and have worked with around 30 participants during this time. We are extremely thankful, therefore, for the charitable contribution that we received from Bristol based company Heat Recruitment who recently donated a number of laptops for the students on the HITZ programme to use to help enhance their learning experience.

Nick George, HITZ Officer & Camps Manager at Bristol Bears Community Foundation, said: “Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic students on our HITZ programme have had to adapt to learning online, which has been a challenge for some as they have only had access to a mobile phone or via telephone calls. “This generous donation will ensure that these students will have access to a laptop regardless of them working from home or onsite. On behalf of the HITZ group, I would like to thank Heat Recruitment, this will have a significant impact on ensuring that the young people get the most benefit from being on the programme.” Steve Preston, Managing Director at Heat Recruitment, said: “Community is an important component to us at Heat, especially in these current times. Giving back and supporting each other wherever possible is one of our passions and commitments, especially enhanced, thanks to our close relationship with the Bristol Bears Community Foundation.

“Recently at Heat we have been able to assist the foundation by donating laptops to local children to aid their ability to learn and partake in school lessons and help shape them for their full potential. We all play a vital role in the development of children and we want to take a leading role in giving back to the community with this support. “While we deeply care for our customers, we strongly believe that we must help the youngest and most vulnerable and come to together to all have a better and brighter future”.

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