Council seeks views on air pollution solution

The campaign to improve air quality in the St George area led by St George Breathing Better ...

Council seeks views on air pollution solution

People living, working and visiting Bristol are being asked for their views on two options to reduce harmful air pollution in the city.

Details of the proposals are available at: www.bristol.gov.uk/trafficcleanairzone

Bristol City Council has launched its Traffic Clean Air Zone consultation on two options to lower pollution in the shortest possible time. The proposals are described as aiming to minimise any impact for people on lower incomes. The consultation runs until Monday 12 August 2019.

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, explained:

“Air pollution affects everyone in Bristol. Whether you drive a car, cycle or walk, you are exposed to high levels of pollution which can cause breathing problems like asthma, plus other lung and heart problems, ultimately shortening lives. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is one of the most harmful pollutants and is currently at illegal levels in cities across the UK, including Bristol.
Protecting the most vulnerable from pollution is central to our plans and we have developed the two options which we think strike the right balance, reducing toxic fumes in the shortest possible time but in a way that does not adversely affect the people with lowest incomes or widen the inequality divide in the city.
We cannot do this alone as individuals. We must come together to take action. The next step involves giving your feedback on the options we have developed. Please tell us how you think it will affect you and what we need to consider.”


The two options are:

Option 1: Clean Air Zone (private cars not charged)
• A zone where more polluting buses, coaches, taxis, heavy (HGVs) and light goods vehicles (LGVs) would be charged for each day they are driven in the zone. Taxis and LGVs would be charged £9.00 per day. HGVs, coaches and buses £100.00 per day.
Option 1 would also include:
• a 24-hour a day, seven day a week HGV weight restriction on the worst polluted routes;
• A diesel car ban on Upper Maudlin Street and Park Row running from St James Barton roundabout to Park Street between 7.00am and 3.00pm, seven days a week (this would not apply to taxis/private hire or emergency services);
• Bus and local traffic changes in the most polluting areas including an inbound bus lane on the M32, an inbound bus lane on Cumberland Road and using existing traffic signals to control the amount of traffic entering congested areas with poor air quality;
• A scrappage scheme (up to £2,000) for diesel cars. This would provide a grant towards a newer cleaner vehicle or an alternative mode of transport (e.g. bus travel or purchasing a bike).

Option 2: Diesel car ban
Banning ALL diesel cars from driving in a specific central area (small zone) from 7.00am to 3.00pm, seven days a week (this would not apply to taxis/private hire or emergency services). Other measures, including a scrappage scheme, could also be included.

You can see a map of the proposed zones HERE.  Note that St George, Redfield, Whitehall, Speedwell areas are not contained within any of the zones.


Bristol City Council is holding a number of drop-in sessions to give the public the opportunity to discuss the options in more detail.

Drop-in sessions

Barton Hill Settlement, 43 Ducie Road, Barton Hill, BS5 0AX
Thursday 11th July 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Easton Leisure Centre, Thrissell Street, Easton, BS5 0SW
Monday 15th July 3.30pm - 7.30pm

Hope Chapel, Hope Chapel Hill, Hotwells, BS8 4ND
Monday 22nd July 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Marksbury Road Library, Marksbury Road, Bedminster, BS3 5LG
Wednesday 24th July 2.30pm - 7.30pm

Malcolm X Community Centre, 141 City Road, St Pauls, BS2 8YH
Tuesday 30th July 2.30pm - 7.30pm

City Hall (Vestibule), Just off Park Street towards main entrance
Tuesday 6th August 2.30pm - 6.30pm

From July 2019 edition ...

Improving air quality

The local campaigning group 'St George Breathing Better' has been busy promoting the importance of clean air.  They recently featured on BBC Radio Bristol, BBC news, ITV news and Channel 4 news talking about the importance of clean air.  One of their projects has involved individual public statements on the importance of clean air being published on social media.

Bristol City Council has - eventually - published their plans for improving air quality in the city.  The plans include a wide range of potential measures.

In a speech on 20th June, which was Clean Air Day, Mayor Marvin Rees announced "We will raise awareness and enforce the existing Smoke Control Legislation in licenced premises to reduce the illegal burning of wood and solid fuels.  This will include domestic wood burners and bonfire nuisance."   He also announced "We are working with schools, parents and pupils to close roads to cars, outside of schools during drop off and pick up, everywhere it’s possible."

Many of our local schools already have signs encouraging motorists to turn off their engines when waiting outside schools.  This little step can have a major impact of the air quality of childing walking to school and the atmosphere around and within the school.

Bristol City Council is also looking at the possibiltity of a workplace parking levy.  As part the Council's proposal towards a clean air zone, they are looking at a city wide scrappage or vehicle replacement scheme.

You can find further information on Council plans to improve air quality across Bristol at www.cleanairforbristol.org   For more local information, and details of how you can become involved, search for 'St George Breathing Better' on Facebook.

Introducing St George Breathing Better ...

St George Breathing Better is a local action group to focus on air quality/pollution hotspots in the area.

Issues discussed by the group include:
   •  commuter traffic, public transport, park and ride, traffic flow
   •  traffic around schools
   •  awareness raising of pollution levels inside a car
   •  monitoring/real time monitoring
   •  working with Redfield Educate Together Primary Academy, Air Balloon Hill Primary School, Summerhill Infants School and Summerhill Academy to inform and activate
   •  air quality management zone (what does it mean / where does it cover)
   •  clean air zone
   •  creative and also provocative ways to raise awareness
   •  campaigning for change

The group hold regular meetings, to find out more visit the St George Breathing Better Facebook Group