What is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
Birmingham is following Bath in instigating a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and other cities including Manchester and Oxford are set to follow suit soon.
Clean Air Zones are inner-city areas that have been identified as pollution hot spots where the air contains particularly high amounts of pollutants caused by cars. They are densely populated areas where a number of people could be affected.
It’s said air pollution in the UK contributes to 36,000 deaths a year, with 900 of those identified in Birmingham. That’s why Birmingham has been deemed a city that needs a CAZ.
How does the Birmingham Clean Air Zone work?
Vehicles of a certain age or with certain engines will be required to pay a fee to enter a designated area of inner-city Birmingham. Vehicles will be tracked via Automatic Numberplate Recognition Cameras, in the same way as they are in London’s Congestion Charge Zone.
Which vehicles will be expected to pay to enter the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
Petrol cars which have what’s called a pre–Euro 4 engine, which is most petrol cars produced before 2006, will have to pay. Diesel cars will need a Euro 6 engine to be exempt, which is most diesels produced after September 2015.
If you are unsure you can check whether your car is exempt via the government’s tool found here.
Where is the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
The Birmingham CAZ covers everywhere within the A450 Middleway ring road.
How much do non-compliant cars have to pay to enter the Birmingham Clean Air Zone?
It will cost £8 per day for cars and other small vehicles, such as courier vans. But heavy goods vehicles, including coaches, will have to pay £50 per day.
Once the fee is paid the vehicle can go in and out as many times on the day paid, but it works on a date-basis rather than 24 hours.
It operates every day of the year at all hours.
How do I pay to enter the Birmingham Clean Zone?
Payments are made online here.
What is fine for failing to pay the Birmingham Clean Air Zone charge?
Failure to pay for a non-exempt car results in a £120 fine, which is reduced to £60 if paid in 14 days.
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Keyword: Birmingham Clean Air Zone explained