Find out more about Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone with February drop-in events
Published: 30th Jan 2020
Join us at our public engagement events February 2020
Representatives of Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone and public transport providers will come together at two public engagement events in February to answer individual questions about both subjects.
On Wednesday, 12 February and Saturday, 15 February the banquet suite at the Council House in Victoria Square will host two informal drop-in events where people can speak with the team tasked with delivering the city’s first Clean Air Zone.
They will be accompanied by representatives of the city’s key public transport providers who will be able to inform visitors about alternative travel options including current/ existing routes, fares and future plans.
Cllr Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, said: “The Clean Air Zone is coming and will go live in summer this year as one of a series of steps we are taking to tackle air pollution and climate change within Birmingham. This will affect people living, working and visiting the city in many different ways but will deliver one overall benefit in cleaning up the air we breathe.
“Since the decision was made to approve the Clean Air Zone in 2018 there has been a lot of confusion and misinformation about who and where will be affected as well as how it will operate. This event is a chance for people to come along and speak with people who have the correct information and alternative travel solutions, with the option to attend on either a weekday or weekend.”
The Clean Air Zone will go live in summer 2020 and charge only the most high-polluting vehicles to enter within the A4540 Middleway (but not the Middleway itself). Compliant vehicles which will not be charged including electric vehicle, hybrid, petrol vehicles of Euro Standard 4 onwards (most registrations after 2006) and diesel vehicles of Euro Standard 6 onwards (most registrations after 2015).
Some temporary exemptions are available for residents living within the Clean Air Zone and people who work in the zone and earn less than £30,000 a year, whilst permanent exemptions are also available for emergency vehicles and motorcycles.
A Government vehicle checker, which will enable driver to input their registration details to confirm whether or not they will be charged, is due to be launched in the next few weeks and will be followed by the applications for exemptions.
The drop-in sessions will take place from 9am to 6pm on Wednesday 12 February and from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 15 February and are open to everyone. Booking is not required and it is free to attend.