Bristol could ban diesel cars from its city centre for eight hours a day

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Bristol City Council wants to introduce one of two schemes to reduce emissions
First is a clean air zone, charging buses, taxis, vans and HGVs to drive in the city
Second option is a blanket ban on diesel vehicles between 7am and 3pm
The city is under pressure to meet government targets for air pollution, having already missed two deadlines to detail how it tackle emissions

Updated: 09:35 EDT, 13 June 2019

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Bristol City Council could ban diesel vehicles from entering the city centre between the hours of 7am and 3pm under radical new plans being considered.

The city is in desperate need of a strategy to improve its air pollution levels having already twice missed government deadlines for providing details for how it plans to tackle emissions.

While the second option is a blanked ban on diesel vehicles during peak hours, the other is the introduction of a clean air zone - similar to the London Ultra Low Emission Zone - for all but private car owners.

Blanket ban: Bristol City Council could restrict all diesel cars from entering the city centre between the hours of 7am and 3pm under plans being proposed by the authority

In an effort to meet the Government's targets for air quality, a diesel ban in a 'specific central area' was proposed as part of the authority's suggestions provided in papers issued to the Bristol Cabinet.

This would also include a ban on HGVs using routes identified as having high levels of pollution, providing priority measures for public transport and replacing non-compliant buses and taxis so they all meet the latest Euro 6 emissions standards.

Documentation provided by the city council said the main source of nitrogen dioxide (NOx) pollution in Bristol came from diesel cars, which are responsible for 40 per cent of emissions.

Almost a quarter of NOx outputs were from diesel buses and coaches (23 per cent) and diesel vans (22 per cent).

Bristol council is under pressure to launch a scheme to cut air pollution having already missed two government deadlines

The second option up for debate is an emissions charging zone for all but private motorists, with fees of up to £100 for polluting buses, taxis and trucks.

It also suggests a targeted diesel ban for the roads around the Bristol Royal Infirmary and Children's Hospital.

Both options would also have a city-wide scrappage scheme to help owners upgrade their cars to the latest Euro 6 models.

The plans are being put to a six-week public consultation - which starts on 1 July - giving locals the opportunity to choose their favoured option.

The scheme that receives the most votes will be presented to the Cabinet in September.

A clean air zone would see taxis charged a fee to enter the city limits

Buses and taxis would need to be upgraded to the latest emissions standards to be compliant, else face a fee of up to £100

Papers issued to the cabinet indicated that the council is under pressure to launch an emissions-cutting scheme having missed two deadlines and spending almost £1million of government funding on proposals.

Failure to deliver a plan could see the city having to pay back £1.65million it has received from government.

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees said: 'To successfully tackle serious and complex city challenges like poor air quality we must ensure environmental and social justice go hand in hand.

'We cannot and will not sacrifice our low income households by introducing widespread charges which will have a detrimental impact on them.

'These latest proposals could strike the right balance by targeting the most polluting vehicles within specific classes of vehicle and by considering a dedicated area outside our central Bristol hospitals including the children's hospital, where we want to protect those most vulnerable to pollution.'

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