Bath’s clean air zone starts from midnight on Monday 15 March 2021 to urgently cut air pollution.
From this date, you may have to pay to drive in the zone if you drive a higher emission taxi, private hire vehicle, minibus, van (including pick-up and campervan), light goods vehicle, bus, coach or lorry. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged in Bath but may be charged in other zones.
Check if you’ll be charged
Only higher emission vehicles will be charged. Please check whether you need to pay to drive in Bath’s CAZ, using your vehicle registration number at GOV.UK’s vehicle checker: www.gov.uk/check-clean-air-zone-charge. The service will also tell you whether a national exemption applies.
What types of vehicles will be charged?
The following higher emission vehicles will be charged in Bath’s CAZ:
- Pre Euro 6/VI diesel vehicles (Euro 1 to 5/V or earlier)
- Pre Euro 4 petrol vehicles (Euro 1 to 3 or earlier)
There will be no charge for lower emission vehicles such as Euro 6 diesel vehicles, Euro 4 (or newer) petrol vehicles, fully electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles or hybrid vehicles.
What are the charges?
The zone will operate 24 hours a day (midnight to midnight), 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
- Higher emission taxis, private hire vehicles, minibuses, LGVs and vans (including pick-ups and campervans): £9 a day
- Higher emission buses, coaches and HGVs: £100 a day.
- Larger, higher emission horse transporters and motorhomes (classed as private heavy goods vehicles): reduced rate of £9, provided the vehicle is registered with Bath & North East Somerset Council at least 14 days ahead of their journey. Otherwise the charge is £100.
How to pay
If charges apply, then from midnight on 15 March, please pay within 7 days of driving in the zone at www.gov.uk/cleanairzone or you could receive a penalty charge notice.
Discounted and exempt journeys are managed using the Council’s MiPermit app or website. Please go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/CAZexemptions for more information.
What support is available?
Drivers affected by charges are advised to check the council’s website at www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathCAZ for a list of local exemptions and whether they might be eligible for financial support to upgrade their vehicle or fleet.
The financial support scheme can provide grants and/or interest-free finance to help those regularly affected by charges to upgrade or replace non-compliant vehicles. Those who have premises and/or regularly drive in the zone, can apply. In light of COVID-19, Bath & NE Somerset Council has amended the support scheme to give additional help to some businesses.
A wide range of local exemptions is also available for hard-to-replace or special vehicles, and to support disadvantaged groups and vital services in the city.
Why does Bath need a Clean Air Zone?
Bath’s Clean Air Zone is being introduced to help the city meet UK air quality legislation. Several places in Bath currently exceed the legal limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution which is mainly caused by diesel and older petrol vehicles. This situation is unacceptable because of the role that poor air quality plays in damaging health locally, and in the Climate Emergency more widely.
In Bath and North East Somerset, around 12,000 people suffer from asthma, and high concentrations of NO2 can trigger attacks. The latest research indicates that in the UK, between 1 in 4 and 1 in 12 of new cases of asthma in children each year are attributable to NO2. 74% of these cases occur in urban areas. Over the longer term, high levels of NO2 contribute to reduced lung development in children and are linked to an increased possibility of heart attacks and dementia in older people.
While the city is not charging private cars, the council is currently looking at lots of ways to improve walking, cycling and public transport to encourage more people to choose more sustainable ways of getting around.
Find out more
For information on Bath’s clean air zone, including maps, charges, a link to the vehicle checker, exemptions and financial support go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathCAZ.