Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone Charging Order published by Council as 1 June date nears
With less than a month to go until the launch of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone, Birmingham City Council has published the Birmingham Clean Air Zone Charging Order 2021.
The order sets out the full details of how the Clean Air Zone will operate. The order came into force on 26 April 2021. Article 7 (Imposition of charges) will come into force on 1 June 2021.
This means that from 1 June 2021 onwards, vehicles of specified classes that do not meet the emissions standards set out in the order will, subject to specified exemptions, be required to pay the charge stated in the order to drive in the Birmingham Clean Air Zone. Owners of high polluting vehicles will be charged to drive within the A4540 Middleway (but not the Middleway itself).
The order sets out the temporary and permanent exemptions available, how the council will approach any enforcement associated with non-payment of the Clean Air Zone daily fee and how it intends to use any income generated from the zone.
Non-compliant vehicles will be charged £8 a day for cars, taxis and vans and £50 for coaches, buses and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs).
Number plate recognition cameras will record the details of every vehicle travelling through the city and drivers will be asked to pay online or by a dedicated phone number.
People will be asked to pay up to six days before their visit or up to six days afterwards. Those who do not pay on time will face a £120 fine, which will be reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Temporary exemption permits are available for:
people who live in the Clean Air Zone
businesses who store vehicles overnight within the Clean Air Zone.
people who live outside of the Clean Air Zone but who:
work more than 18 hours a week at premises within the Clean Air Zone
earned not more than £30,000 in the tax year ending 5 April 2019
are the registered owner/ keeper of a non-compliant vehicle.
A voucher scheme will enable visitors to Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Attwood Green Medical Centre and Badger Medical Centre to cancel any charges online.
Following conversations with the NHS, this scheme has also been extended to include Millennium Point as a mass vaccination centre.
Stephen Arnold, Head of Clean Air Zone, said: “With less than four weeks to go until the launch of the Clean Air Zone on 1 June 2021, the publication of the Charging Order represents another significant milestone on our journey to cleaner air. As we move even closer to the zone’s implementation, we are urging people who have not already done so to check if they will be charged and if eligible, apply for a temporary exemption permit or financial support.
“If you are subject to the charges, now is the time to consider your options to either pay the charge or explore alternative options to travelling by private car.”
Those who are eligible for a temporary exemption permit are being advised to apply with all supporting evidence as soon as possible to be guaranteed their exemption in time for the 1 June 2021 launch. Applications submitted later will still be processed but there is no guarantee they will be approved in time for the Clean Air Zone and therefore charges will apply.
