Step towards tackling Bristol’s killer air pollution

Air pollution is responsible for 300 premature deaths in Bristol each year and has been branded a social injustice that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable people.

Action to urgently tackle the illegal nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the city has been identified as a top priority for the council, which would bring in a congestion charge system under four of the five options on the table for the development of a Clean Air Zone.

The aim is to make the city’s air pollution levels legally compliant by 2023.

Kye Dudd

Presenting the report to cabinet on Tuesday, Kye Dudd, cabinet member for energy and waste, stressed the measures being proposed are to address a public health matter rather than a war on motorists.

But while the move to tackle the city’s polluted air has been hailed a victory for thousands of campaigners who have been calling for immediate action, some say the proposals lack ambition and do not go far enough.

Bristol Friends of the Earth condemned the decision to rule out a large charging clean air zone at this stage, arguing this would be the best way to improve public health for the whole city as they urged the council to “stand up to the powerful car lobby”.

The group added: “While air pollution affects us all, it is Bristol’s youngest, oldest and those with medical conditions that are taking the brunt of this.”

A report submitted to cabinet outlines five separate options for a Clean Air Zone, including proposals for small or medium-sized charging zones that would either affect all vehicles, or exempt cars. There is also the option of introducing a non-charging Clean Air Zone.

In addition, the council is seeking to invest more in sustainable transport and is already working to upgrade the city’s buses to greener models.

Dudd said: “Studies show that around 300 lives are lost each year due to poor air quality in the city, which comes mainly from road traffic, and in particular from diesel engines in cars, freight and buses.

“We’ve investigated the most effective ways of tackling harmful air pollution and are now in a position to share the best options from our technical studies.”

He added that the reason for not looking at a larger charging zone at this stage is driven by the need to address the worst affected areas quickly.

The options on the table take account of a legal decision in July 2017 when the government formally directed 27 cities to take action on air pollution. Under this, Bristol had to identify options which would deliver compliance with legal limits for NO2 in the shortest possible time.

Green Party MEP, councillors and members campaigning for action against air pollution

Green councillors, who have lobbied on the issue for years, welcomed the move and called on Bristol’s Labour administration to take bold and effective action.

Fi Hance, Green councillor for Redland and former cabinet lead on energy, submitted a statement, saying: “Far too many people in our most deprived communities are suffering the ill effects of our dirty air.

“As the report points out, in some areas, over one in 10 of early deaths can be attributed to air pollution, along with many more numbers suffering from poor health.”

She added: “While the options outlined are significant and will require a considerable amount of political courage to implement, they are only part of the picture. Shifting a culture of car dependency and entitlement is not easy and we must continue to lobby Government for adequate resourcing to promote active travel.”

Calling clean air an “achievable necessity”, Anthony Negus, Lib Dem councillor for Cotham, also stressed the need to think longer term as well as implementing short term measures to ease the immediate danger.

Labour cabinet members agreed that while there is no easy solution to tackling the issue, the will is there to make change happen.

Further assessments of the five options will now be undertaken and residents, businesses and  transport operators will be asked for their views to inform a preferred option which will then be subject to a formal public consultation before a final decision is made.

Read more: ‘Cleaning up Bristol’s air’