Clean Air Charging Zone

DEFRA (Dept. Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) have issued a Direction to Coventry City Council instructing them to create a Clean Air Charging Zone in Coventry. Based on the council's Air Quality Action Plan this will cover an area roughly within 1 mile of the city centre and Foleshill as far as the Ribbon Island (Phoenix Way). All vehicles entering the Zone that do not meet emissions standards will have to pay a daily charge of £12.50 (£100 for HGV & buses). The council are also required to carry out the "Holyhead Road" improvements. This includes closing Coundon Level Crossing and restricting peak traffic on the Holyhead Road. The order was made on 25th March, but only published last Thursday (9th May). The Zone is likely to come into effect in 2020. To avoid the charge petrol engines need to be EUR4 compliant (2006 or later) and diesel engines EUR6 (Sept 2015 or later). Some vehicles from before these dates may also be compliant. Peter.

I agree with the sentiment but I have no idea how they are going to be able to enforce that, least of all citizens being able to conduct their BAU needs. The problem with Cov is the city has outgrown the noose that is the Ring Road and this is forcing the congestion in central areas. It'll be absolute chaos.

Just in time to kill the City of Culture as people decide not to risk paying extra or work out if they're compliant or not.

This charging zone will stop the many people who still own older cars from driving into the city centre. In an ideal world they will all start using the bus or the train but the reality is that many will still want to use their cars so will go in increasing numbers to places like Tamworth, Leamington, and Rugby where they can find the same shops and businesses as in Coventry.

Never mind vehicles, the powers that be should be checking on the emissions from wood burning stoves. It is obvious, at times, that some people are flouting the law and burning any old rubbish.

More cameras and letters through the door, I expect.

Today seems an especially bad day in the Burges, a vast accumulation of traffic, rivers of cars pass by, dashing along here, stalling there, petrol fumes stifling, tides of people come and go. Here history lies below the tram lines. An old woman rattles off a chain of coughing, men walk by wheezing and coughing but still smoking. I search three department stores for a fog mask without success. I think I will live for now, with the wind in my cheeks and my eyes looking for new places. The following day's papers claim 4,000 people died in London in that one year from smog, have no idea in Coventry. 1952.

A Tale of Two Cities (and maybe a warning for a third?) Birmingham CAZ Vehicles fail compliance check (using same "criteria" as London) London CAZ Same vehicles pass compliance check Birmingham renews Uber's licence Transport for London has declined to renew Uber's licence on public safety grounds (Appeal pending)

Aren't we going through "deja" all over again! In the 1950s, the poor health of the (poorer parts of the) population, caused by a combination of fossil fuel use and the promotion of cigarettes, ended up costing people their lives and the economy all those millions of working lives. In the 1960s, taxpayers all had to pay the price of getting the soot off the public and church buildings, put there over the years by our use of fossil fuels. This time around it is different - we know the effects of putting soot into our lungs and into the atmosphere, we know the effects of putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, but our politicians - particularly ours in Australia - have the attitude of "don't worry - the next generation can pay for it and fix it". If I get the opportunity to come back after my time in Purgatory, I'll be telling the bas"ards where they went wrong. Oh, in case anyone points out the speedway bike in my logo, I believe that the product of burning methanol is mainly water (plus, of course, that lovely "speedway" smell!)

Coventry Clean Air Zone to be scrpped Good news for some, bad for others - particularly on Coundon Road. Peter. (link corrected)

This will prove to be the best decision for Coventry. I think the "unique" nature of its ring road was/is never going to lend itself to some idealised/imaginary CAZ. Also, I believe it has been recognised that the proposed CAZ was never going to be fundable from taxing the motorist. The alternatives are inspiring but will require promotion/support/use if they are to be the way forward and act as an example to others.