Bath's historic city centre has become a battleground in the fight against air pollution, with the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) imposing charges on thousands of older vehicles that fail to meet stringent emission standards. Launched in March 2021, the zone is part of an ongoing effort to reduce nitrogen dioxide levels and improve public health – particularly for residents living in congested areas.
The CAZ covers a significant portion of central Bath, operating continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Its focus is on commercial and passenger transport vehicles that fail to meet Euro 6 standards for diesel engines or Euro 4 standards for petrol engines – including taxis, private hire vehicles, vans, buses, coaches, and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs). These vehicles are subject to daily charges of £9 (taxis and private hire vehicles, vans, and light goods vehicles) or £100 (buses, coaches, and HGVs that do not meet the required emission standards).
The council has offered financial assistance and grants to help local businesses and individuals upgrade their vehicles to compliant models, mitigating some of the financial impact. The scheme follows a directive from the government to tackle air pollution in urban centres across the UK, with Bath and North East Somerset Council implementing the zone after extensive public consultation.
As part of a broader national initiative, local authorities are increasingly exploring and implementing similar measures – such as Low Emission Zones and Ultra Low Emission Zones – to meet environmental targets and improve health outcomes for residents living in areas with high traffic volumes. The effectiveness of these zones is continually monitored, with data on air quality being collected to assess their long-term impact.
The CAZ is part of a larger effort by Bath and North East Somerset Council to address the city's poor air quality. Since its introduction, there has been a noticeable reduction in nitrogen dioxide levels – but further work remains to be done to ensure compliance with government targets and protect public health.