No clean air zone charges for fire service vehicles

A council has confirmed that non-compliant fire service emergency vehicles will not be charged for entering a city's clean air zone (CAZ).

Drivers of Avon Fire and Rescue Service's emergency vehicles were facing charges of £9 a day when entering the zone in Bath, Somerset, ahead of a four-year exemption period coming to an end on 14 March.

Since the zone was introduced in 2021, Avon and Somerset Police has introduced more hybrid and electric vehicles but more than half of the fire service's fleet is still not compliant.

A spokesperson for Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said: "We want to maintain our commitment to improving air quality in Bath and the CAZ is a key element of this work, with an expectation of compliance."

Bath was the first city in the UK after London to introduce a clean air zone, charging drivers up to £100 daily.

Since it was launched, air quality in the city has improved.

Emergency services were given a four-year exemption from the CAZ to invest in more eco-friendly vehicles for their fleets.

Avon and Somerset Police said it has been working closely with the council to source cleaner vehicles and create a "zero-emission police fleet".

The force still has 66 non-compliant vehicles, but half of them are due to be replaced immediately.

"For the remainder, we are confident that, by working with the council, we can mitigate any significant cost impact by sending alternate, compliant vehicles into the city whenever possible," a spokesperson said.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service previously said that it will take Avon Fire and Rescue Service another six years to replace its fleet with compliant vehicles.

BANES Council has requested the service provide a timeline indicating when their fleet will be compliant.

In a statement, the local authority said: "We have agreed an extension of the current waiver period on CAZ charges on Avon Fire and Rescue Service vehicles beyond 15 March.

"We have agreed that clear timelines for this should be included in any updated memorandum of understanding and welcome the service's commitment to working with us to address these issues."

It added: "The extension of this exemption is currently being discussed with each individual service as part of ongoing continued dialogue.

"We note the efforts to date from Avon & Somerset Police and South West Ambulance Service Trust in meeting compliance through fleet upgrade and redistribution plans.

"We are working with Avon Fire & Rescue to understand their fleet replacement programme and these discussions will assist us in confirming the necessary extension period."

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