Clean Air Zones

Clean Air Zones

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In 2015, the Government unveiled plans to improve air quality in major cities, with a selected number of Clean Air Zones. We all want to enjoy cleaner, healthier air and the Clean Air Zones are a Government strategy to improve air quality across the country by discouraging the use of older, more polluting vehicles.

Originally it was thought that the Clean Air Zones would only apply to buses, taxis and HGVs, however following a legal challenge this has been extended to include non-compliant private vehicles, which means that some motorists may be affected by the charges, if their vehicles fails to meet the required environmental standards.

How am I going to be affected?

Currently the Clean Air Zones are in place in the cities of Bath, Birmingham and Portsmouth. Bristol is looking to implement changes in late 2022 whilst Greater Manchester has delayed the implementation, which will be updated in July 2022. It is more than likely that more cities will start to implement Clean Air Zones in 2022 also. If you’re planning on driving through a Clean Air Zone, visit: www.gov.uk to check whether your vehicle is eligible.

Unlike the congestion charge that’s in place in London, which charges every vehicle that enters the designated area, the Clear Air Zone will only charge the most polluting vehicles. If you want to drive in London’s low or ultra low emission zones, visit the Transport for London website to check whether your vehicle meets emission standards.

Clean Air Zones - where are they?

Bath

Launched in March 2021, Bath has a class C Clean Air Zone rating which means that charges only apply to high-emission taxis, buses and other large vehicles who travel through the city centre.

Bath’s Clean Air Zone covers roads in Bath City Centre and areas including Kingsmead, Bathwick and Walcot, with advanced warnings near to the boundaries so that motorists can choose to avoid it. View the map of Bath’s CAZ  

You can also check your vehicle registration number before travelling.

Our nearest Club campsite is Bath Chew Valley Club Campsite which is easily accessible without going through the Clean Air Zone.

Visit Bath Chew Valley Club Campsite

Birmingham

Launched in June 2021, Birmingham has a class D Clean Air Zone rating which means that a majority of vehicles will face a charge, unless it’s a zero-emission vehicle or exempt.

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and will cover all the roads with the A4540 Middleway Ring Road, but not the Middleway itself. This also includes the A38 and the tunnels. View the map of Birmingham's Clean Air Zone.

To find out more about the postcodes affected and the charges enforced visit the Birmingham City Council’s website.

Our nearest Club campsite is Chapel Lane Club Campsite which is easily accessible without going through the Clean Air Zone.

Visit Chapel Lane Club Campsite

Portsmouth

Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zones will start to be enforced in November 2021 under the class B zone. This means that private cars, motorcycles and vans will not be charged. There are also additional exemptions to some vehicles as well as time-limited ‘sunset periods’. More information can be found here.

The Clean Air Zone in Portsmouth will cover the south west of the city, including the city centre where the pollution is the highest. View a map of Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone.

Visitors to our Southlands Club Campsite on the Isle of Wight may be affected by Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone, if they are using the Portsmouth ferry port. We would encourage drivers to check using the Portsmouth City Council website, before setting out.

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Bristol

With over 71% of vehicles in Bristol already compliant to the Government set legal limits for pollution, only a minority of vehicles that will be driving through Bristol’s Clean Air Zone will be affected.

The zone is intended to encourage drivers and businesses to update their vehicles, change their route to a less congested area or change their mode of transport.

Bristol’s zone is due to be enforced in the start of summer 2022, with the suggested boundary covering where air quality is worst including the Cumberland Basin because they are the main routes into the city. For updates on Bristol Clean Air Zone visit: cleanairforbristol.org

Our nearest Club campsite is Baltic Wharf Club Campsite. Keep checking Bristol City Council website for updates as to whether your journey to our Club campsites could be affected.

Visit Baltic Wharf Club Campsite

Greater Manchester

A delay on the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone has been implemented until July 2022, with the local authority being in discussion with residents and local businesses.

The proposed Clean Air Zone boundary with exclude the Strategic Road Network (SRN) of motorways and major trunk roads with is managed by Highways England. There will be clear signage before the boundary, so that drivers who don’t wish to enter the Zone can take an alternative route.

Our nearest Club campsite is Burrs Country Park Club Campsite, to see if your journey could be affected and to see a map of the propsed area, check on Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone website.

Visit Burrs Country Park Club Campsite