A new online service has gone live today (5 February 2020) to
help drivers and businesses to prepare for the introduction of
clean air zones with charges in Birmingham and Leeds.
The vehicle checker will allow drivers to find out if they will
be affected by the change which will charge the most polluting
vehicles to drive in the cities.
Air pollution has improved significantly in recent decades, but
we recognise there is more to do, and local authorities are
taking forward clean air zones to reduce the use of polluting
vehicles.
Leeds City Council is bringing in a ‘Class B’ clean air zone
later this year which will mean some older, polluting buses,
coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and HGVs will be charged to drive
within the zone. Birmingham City Council is bringing in a ‘Class
D’ charging zone, which will also come into place later this
year, and will apply to some vans and private cars.
Further local authorities including Bath and Sheffield are
bringing in clean air zones in 2020 and 2021 and will be also
responsible for introducing charges.
Tackling high pollution levels is a serious challenge for
communities across the UK which is why the government is
providing financial and expert support to local authorities to
help them clean up their air.
As well as the online vehicle checker, the government has already
provided around £60 million to Leeds and Birmingham to retrofit
buses and support businesses and drivers affected by the charge.
The online vehicle checker is
available now to help drivers and businesses to check how they
will be affected.
