Future of final mile clean air steps back for COVID19

Oxford Zero emission zone

Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council have postponed the implementation of their planned Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The zone, which was due to be implemented in December 2020, has now been put back.

The current consultation has been cancelled, but feedback already submitted will be saved. Anyone who has responded to the current consultation will be contacted when the process resumes. The councils plan to resume the consultation in late 2020, and a view to implement the scheme in the Summer of 2021.

Leeds Clean air charging zone to Jan 2021 at the earliest.

Due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Leeds City Council has asked the government for permission to delay the planned Clean Air Charging Zone until January 2021 at the earliest. How will financial support be affected?

· Leeds City Council is still accepting applications for, and continuing to pay, grant payments for Leeds-licensed taxi and private hire owners who have switched to a compliant vehicle.

· Repayments for taxi and private hire owners who have received an interest-free CAZ loan have been suspended from April 1 until further notice.

· The council is continuing to pay grant payments for operators of non-scheduled buses, coaches and heavy goods vehicles who have switched to, or are still intending to switch to, a compliant vehicle before the zone goes live.

· The council is not accepting new applications for large vehicle grants at this time.

The Leeds taxi and private hire office is automatically extending all taxi and private hire driver, vehicle and operator licences that are due to expire before the end of June. The situation will be reviewed before the end of June and may be extended further.

Birmingham Clean Air Zone dates move back for virus

Last week, Birmingham City Council has written to the Government requesting postponement to the launch of its Clean Air Zone. A CAZ is a part of a town or city where charges or fines are introduced in order to discourage the use of polluting vehicles. The aim is to improve air quality.

Birmingham’s CAZ was supposed to be introduced this summer. However, the city council has requested to delay the launch of the zone until at least the end of the calendar year.

The local authority said their focus during the pandemic should be on trying to support businesses and employees rather than upgrading vehicle fleets.

Cllr Waseem Zaffar, cabinet member for transport and environment.

COVID-19 is having a profound impact on the economy of the city and our preparations for the Clean Air Zone, We believe that a Clean Air Zone in Birmingham remains the most effective way of making a sustainable improvement to Birmingham’s air quality and we will continue to put in place the infrastructure required to support it.