'No doubt' Bath clean air zone will happen and it could be extended, says councillor

Bath's planning and environment chief Bob Goodman says 'there is no doubt' the clean air zone will happen and the area it covers could even be extended.

Bath and North East Somerset Council outlined plans that could see older cars, taxis and vans hit with a £9 charge and a £100 levy for buses, coaches and HGVs to enter the city centre.

The council, which has a consultation running until next Monday (November 26), is looking to implement the scheme by 2021.

It has been ordered by Government to bring nitrogen dioxide levels within the legal limit in the shortest possible time and by 2021 at the latest - and the guidelines say it cannot be used to generate income.

Cllr Goodman, the council's member responsible for development and neighbourhoods, was quoted to say the city was on the right track to deliver the clean air zone.

The proposed clean air zone for Bath is expected to come into force by the end of 2020 (Image: Crown Copyright.)

In an interview on Sunday Politics West, Cllr Goodman said: "We will learn from, particularly I have to say, those who want a bigger area - that is really important.

"We will also learn from those people who think £9 is too much or other aspects of what people are saying."

In response to whether or not the city is on the right track to implementing the clean air zone, Cllr Goodman said it was.

"Bath is on the right track. We were given a letter by the government in July 2017 and we have worked extremely hard since then to come up with what we think is the right solution," he said.

"We have had the best consultation. I think it is best when you get 5,500 people in five weeks put in a variety of things (ideas)."

Cllr Goodman then laid out some of the views put forward by the public.

"One, 'we want a much bigger area' - and that is something we are considering," he said.

"Other people have said 'It could ruin Bath because it could affect our businesses, we don't want to pay etc etc'."

Cabinet member for development and neighbourhoods Cllr Bob Goodman

Cllr Goodman said BANES is in talks with the Government about how to help people on lower salaries and on benefits cope with this.

This included looking at 'park and rides' and 'other types of systems where we can help those people' facilitate a change.

When asked if he would accept the city's poorest people will shoulder the burden of this clean air zone, Cllr Goodman did not agree.

"No I don't (accept that). I believe those poorest people we have taken care of in relation to the grants that we are going to get from Government," he said.

He added: "Those people on low pay and benefits, yes, I absolutely expect them to get help. They would pay to have their vehicle changed."

On the topic of buses being big contributors to pollution, Cllr Goodman said: "What I think is important to understand is that again, through Government funding, we will have areas where we can change those buses so that they are no longer pollutant buses.

"I think that is a real key to it, the Government are giving us funding towards this."

Cards about the clean air zone have been posted through Bath residents' letterboxes

When asked if he thought a clean air zone would be implemented, Cllr Goodman was confident it would be.

"Absolutely. I think there is no doubt because we have to reduce the pollution down," he said.

"When I go to schools and the school pupils there say we are right outside a school here and we have horrible fumes in our playground, that is not right."

Finally, he was asked if someone wants to drive an old car into Bath they should have to pay?

"Absolutely. That is because you have to measure the pollution as a whole - it doesn't go away," he said.

The response from some quarters of the Bath public to the clean air zone plans has been very negative.

Some have said this is a 'blatant tax on the poor'.

Other side of the information card about the clean air zone proposal from B&NES Council

Some traders say they are going to be 'bludgeoned' by the 'catastrophic' plan and garage owners say they could be put 'out of business'.

Wiltshire councillors fear this will lead to a 'patient tax' at Bath's Royal United Hospital.

However many support the clean air zone proposal as air pollution is ‘literally killing people’ every day.

The remaining drop-in events are on:

Wednesday, November 21, 4-8pm, Widcombe Social Club, Widcombe Hill, Bath, BA2 6AA
Saturday, November 24, 10am-2pm, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Brunswick Room, Guildhall, High Street, Bath, BA1 5A

A consultation is ongoing and the public can have their say on the plans until November 26.

Details can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/breathe or at your local B&NES library.