Source · Select Committees · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Recommendation 11
11
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 87
Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are the UK Government’s key mechanism for reducing NO2 from road...
Recommendation
Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are the UK Government’s key mechanism for reducing NO2 from road transport to legal levels “in the shortest possible time”, but they illustrate the Government’s over-reliance on local government to deliver progress. CAZs were already being held up before the pandemic by delays in national funding, lack of national support and local delays. The Government’s updated CAZ- timetable provides only a partial picture with regards to all the local authorities that had been directed to consider whether to introduce CAZs. Many CAZs have been further held up by the pandemic so a concerted effort is needed to achieve faster progress, requiring a more cooperative and joined-up approach between national and local government, as well as more funding. Although local NO2 levels may fall below legal limits over time because of wider changes, in the interim, many local residents will die or suffer health impacts. We also note that some questions remain about the measurement and accuracy of air quality across the country. The Government should, in its response to this report, set out revised timetables for when all the proposed CAZs in England will be implemented and ensure that they are “the shortest possible time”. It should set out the current position with regards to those local authorities which have decided to introduce alternative measures to CAZs, and for those authorities which may be reviewing their proposals because of the pandemic. It should also review what further resources are needed to ensure those timetables don’t slip further.
Government response summary AI-generated
The government explained its Clean Air Zone Framework and the principles for local authorities, emphasizing economic impacts and time-limited exemptions, but did not provide the requested revised timetables for CAZ implementation, updates on local authorities using alternative measures, or a review of necessary resources.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
87
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government · verbatim extract
Not Addressed
The Government has assessed Clean Air Zones (CAZs) as the fastest means of achieving NO2 compliance at a national level. Clean Air Zones do have significant social and economic impacts, and the Government has been clear that they should only be used where local authorities are unable to identify equally effective alternatives to delivering compliance with NO2 limits in the shortest possible time. Local authorities including those developing clean air plans can introduce a Clean Air Zone if they choose to. Where Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are being implemented, they are being delivered as quickly as possible. Bath introduced the first CAZ on 15 March 2021 and Birmingham will follow on 1 June 2021. We continue to work with Bristol, Tyneside, Sheffield, Bradford, Greater Manchester and Portsmouth to confirm go live of their CAZs which are expected in late 2021/early 2022. Liverpool’s CAZ is expected in 2023. We will communicate with further details on CAZ go live dates in due course. Covid-19 has delayed Clean Air Zone delivery timelines and we agreed with delays to go live dates requested by Local Authorities during the March 2020 lockdown. Local Authorities are also keen to understand the potential medium-term impacts of covid-19 on traffic flow and air quality. Focussing on ensuring compliance is maintained long term, we expect local authorities to deliver their previously agreed measures unless they provide JAQU with robust evidence demonstrating a need to revise those plans. In the case of Leeds CAZ, early action from Leeds City Council supported by £6.2 million Government funding for taxis, PHVs, HGVs and buses upgrades and a behaviour change communications programme mean Leeds are now below the statutory NO2 limit (40 micro grammes per metre cubed). This has been confirmed by air quality experts in Leeds City Council and the evidence approach has been reviewed by an independent expert panel. We will continue to monitor NO2 levels in Leeds and other cities and take appropriate action where required to maintain compliance. Please see below a table on progress with Local Authorities implementing non charging measures: Local authority area Progress summary Blackwater Valley Delivered traffic management measures. Implementation complete. Blackwater Valley continues to provide monitoring and reporting information to JAQU. Bolsover Developing non charging measures to work towards compliance. We will review these and will provide further updates when appropriate. Broxbourne Developing non charging measures to work towards compliance. We will review these and will provide further updates when appropriate. Derby Delivering traffic management measures. Dudley Bus retrofit (managed by TfWM see below). LA is delivering signal upgrades in 3 areas with optimisation technology. Final traffic count expected in Spring 2021. Fareham Taxi incentive scheme. Implementation of measures complete. Fareham continues to provide monitoring and reporting information to JAQU. Hampshire Measures include optimised signalling at roundabout and cycle infrastructure. Implementation of measures complete. Fareham continues to provide monitoring and reporting information to JAQU. Leicester 157 of 165 buses retrofitted through Clean Bus Technology Fund. Developing non charging measures to work towards compliance. Developing non charging measures to work towards compliance. We will review these and will provide further updates when appropriate. Nottingham Delivering measures including ULEV try-before-you-buy (taxi) scheme. Reading Borough Council Delivering retrofit programme with 65 of 79 buses retrofitted. Sandwell Delivered measures including signal optimisation and bus upgrade. Implementation of measures complete. LA continues to provide monitoring and reporting information to JAQU. Southampton Taxi EV charge points measure now complete. LA implementing other taxi measures including taxi incentive scheme and ULEV taxi trial. Stoke on Trent and Newcastle under-Lyme Newcastle completed bus retrofit work before combining with Stoke. Additional package of non-charging measures being developed to work towards compliance. We will review these and will provide further updates when appropriate. Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Initial work has changed due to covid-19 impacts. LA is working on completing grant bids that were underway. LA is developing a plan to identify measures to bring about compliance. We will review these and will provide further updates when appropriate. South Gloucestershire Delivered measures including traffic management measures. Implementation of measures complete. LA continues to provide monitoring and reporting information to JAQU. Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) Delivered bus retrofit programme on behalf of Dudley and Wolverhampton. Implementation of measures complete. Wolverhampton Council Delivered signal upgrades in 3 locations in addition to road widening in one of these. Bus retrofits managed by TfWM (see abov
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