Updates: Reaction as government orders 'congestion charge' in Coventry

What Coventry's congestion charge could look like

Coventry is to be forced by the government to introduce a congestion charge in the city in a bid to improve air quality in the city.

Once put in place, it could see cars, taxis, buses and lorries having to pay a fee to drive into the Clean Air Zone (CAZ).

However, it won’t be the first city to implement a scheme of this kind. For a number of years, there has been a Low Emission Zone in London (ULEZ) - charging vehicles which do not conform to emission standards.

Coventry City Council initially had an £83m plan to cut pollution which did not include a CAZ, but this was rejected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

You can read the full story on how it could work in Coventry, here.

Installation of charging points

In addition, the council has overseen the installation of charging points across the city centre for electric taxis, and a programme of installing charging points for electric vehicles on residential streets.

The council has also confirmed that in the coming months, they will be linking with local employers, schools and communities to “encourage behaviour change and promote sustainable travel with the aim of reducing car usage, especially for local journeys within the city.”

What else is being done?

The council has been monitoring traffic and air quality, in order to identify the scale of the problem.

This has resulted in problem areas being highlighted, such as the junction of Brays Lane and Walsgrave Road, and steps are now being put in place to improve traffic flow in that area.

Government funding has already been secured to improve air quality, in order to identify the scale of the problem.

Need to improve air quality

The need to improve the air quality in Coventry is great, as the city is one of 28 towns and cities in the UK forecast to exceed legal NO2 limits in 2020.

But while Birmingham, Southampton and Leeds are looking into introducing a charging Clean Air Zone - which is essentially a congestion, or pollution charge, Coventry is looking at other measures.

Buses converted in anticipation

National Express West Midlands have already started converting its fleet of buses to electric vehicles, in anticipation of this.

It is also unknown at this time how much it will cost to drive into the city centre following the implementation of the charge. In London, the standard cost is £11.50 per day.

What is happening in Birmingham?

It comes as part of plans to reduce pollution levels in the city.

Initially, it was believed that only commercial vehicles such as lorries and buses would be charged, but it now appears as though all vehicles will have to pay to travel within the Middle Ring Road.

It is possible that low emission or electric vehicles may not be charged, but full details surrounding the charge have not been released as of yet.

Birmingham set to have charge

Our neighbours down the road in Birmingham are set to get a congestion charge themselves.

Last June, Birmingham City Council outlined plans to introduce a congestion charge in the city centre, in an attempt to clean up the city.

The full details have yet to be revealed, but most motorists look set to have to pay to drive inside Birmingham’s middle ring road, which includes the city centre.

More park and ride?

One suggestion on the Coventry and Warwickshire Traffic and Travel Facebook Page is for more park and ride sites.

Annie Sykes said: “Better get some more park & ride stations set up then!!”

Is this the answer? Would it help?

Back with reaction

Good morning, we’re back with reaction and follow-ups on yesterday’s news that Coventry could be getting a congestion charge.

Comments have been coming in overnight reacting to the news that the city could get a new charge to help reduce pollution.

Several people on Facebook have said that it is the ‘final nail in the coffin’ for Coventry city centre, and it will ‘totally kill the high street’.

Do you have a view on this? Get in touch laura.hartley@reachplc.com.

Upcoming updates and reaction

This is a breaking news story from today, so we will have all the latest updates and developments over the coming days as Cllrs talk with residents.

"Completely unacceptable"

Jim O’Boyle continues by saying it is completely unacceptable and would potentially bring the city to a standstill.

He also said it is without offering any real long term solutions for the city.

He added:

“They are asking us to make every arterial road in the city part of a charging zone and that’s completely unacceptable. I don’t think they understand that in Coventry a Clean Air Zone would end up being a series of fragmented zones that would potentially bring the whole city to a standstill – without offering any real long term solutions for the city.”

Conversations are now taking place with government officials on the way forwards. “We are happy to talk to government representatives but it really needs to be open and honest,” he added.“They are asking us to make every arterial road in the city part of a charging zone and that’s completely unacceptable. I don’t think they understand that in Coventry a Clean Air Zone would end up being a series of fragmented zones that would potentially bring the whole city to a standstill – without offering any real long term solutions for the city.”

Conversations are now taking place with government officials on the way forwards. “We are happy to talk to government representatives but it really needs to be open and honest,” he added.

"Sat on their hands"

Cllr O’Boyle said: “The government have sat on their hands on the issue of air pollution and they’re handing the responsibility to local authorities up and down the country.”

“They haven’t properly respond to our plans that we had put forward.

“There’s no point using heavy handed tactics without any clear rationale. Our local plan is all evidence based, we can demonstrate that we can reduce nitrogen oxide levels in the areas of the most concern and I can’t see how a charging zone would reduce emissions any quicker.”

"Charging doesn't make it cleaner"

Some of the reaction on Facebook has been quite mixed.

Gordon Jones said: “Charging them doesn’t make it cleaner.”

Sally Wills agrees and said: “How stupid....as if charging is going to make any difference!”

Matt Master Moore raises a different point and said: “To many on the roads need to be less not more and no more cars on the roads its a nightmare.”

People want to know what it means

Cllr Ridley added that the public will want to know what exactly this means.

He said they would welcome feedback from people but also said the Council needs to show it can be transparent.

He added:

“Now that it’s in the public domain people will want to know what this means for the city, and for them personally.

“As such, the Council needs to show it can be transparent and fully engage in a meaningful conversation with the public about this situation.

“In the coming days our group will study the proposals carefully and would welcome feedback from the public.”

"Kept quiet"

Cllr Gary Ridley has claimed the Labour administration has kept it quiet - but says probably because of the local elections.

He said:

“These proposals from Government appear to have come through in March yet this failing Labour administration has kept it quiet - presumably because of the local elections.

“We only found out about it ourselves yesterday from a concerned resident who had read the direction.”

Reaction

Reaction to this is coming in thick and fast now.

Cllr Gary Ridley has said they only found out about it yesterday from a concerned resident, and the CoventryLive Facebook audience is also making their voice heard.

We’ll be bringing you the latest reaction as we contact the Chamber of Commerce and the affect it could have on visiting the city, Cllr Jim O’Boyle and see what else Cllr Gary Ridley said.

'Congestion charge' ordered for Coventry

The Government has ordered Coventry City Council to start charging motorists to enter the city in a bid to meet clean air targets.

Cars, taxis, buses and lorries could all face a fee to drive into the Clean Air Zone (CAZ), a move previously described by councillors as “economically disastrous.”

The demand comes after the city council’s £83million plan to cut pollution was rejected by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

You can read the full story on what plans the council had to cut pollution here, and what next for new proposals.