£10 million for Bath’s Clean Air Zone

Up to £10 million has been announced to fund schemes that will help reduce the impact of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Clean Air Zone on businesses and residents.

The government funding is in addition to the £5.5 million already secured to implement the zone when it is launched by 2021. Bath & North East Somerset Council agreed a class C charging clean air zone in March this year, which will exempt cars from paying to drive in the zone. This is being introduced to urgently reduce harmful levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution by 2021 at the latest.

The council has put in an ambitious bid for more than £28 million to fund a wide package of measures to support those affected by the scheme and further improve air quality in the city. The £10 million secured to date will help local bus companies to upgrade older buses; provide financial support to help local businesses and individuals upgrade non-compliant commercial vehicles; and fund a team of travel advisors to help business access the financial support on offer and encourage people to switch to greener, cleaner travel.

Dine Romero, council leader, said: “While we have not yet secured all of the funding we bid for, this announcement from the Joint Air Quality Unit will allow us to move forward with Bath’s Clean Air Zone. We will continue to make our case for the full funding which is necessary to deliver the scheme successfully.

“In the meantime we can start to focus on supporting those local businesses directly affected by charges. We don’t want people driving polluting vehicles in the city and we recognise businesses may need support to make the necessary changes. This announcement means we can now progress the work needed to get the financial assistance scheme up and running, further improving air quality in the city.”