Birmingham will enforce Clean Air Zone from next week

Charges from Birmingham’s clean air zone will be enforced next week, starting from Monday 14 June.

Operators of non-compliant vehicles will have to pay charges to enter a designated area. But officials have announced a ‘grace period’ which means the charges won’t come into effect until Monday 14 June. HGVs and coaches not meeting the standard (Euro VI) face £50 daily charges, and non-compliant vans (pre-Euro VI diesel and pre-Euro IV petrol) will have to pay £8.

The CAZ has been brought in to improve air quality after emissions in Birmingham were found to be over legal limits.

The CAZ area and how to pay
The CAZ covers all roads within the A4540 Middleway, but not the Middleway itself.

You can pay up to six days in advance of visit, on the day, or within six days of visit.

You’ll have to pay a fine of up to £120 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days) for failing to pay the CAZ charge.

More CAZ information on the Birmingham City Council website.

What we’re doing to help our local members
Local RHA area managers are helping members prepare for the changes. Please contact them if you need any advice.

We’re pressing Birmingham City Council to clarify why they’re excluding operators classed as ‘Road Freight Transport for Hire and Reward’ from funding to help them buy compliant vehicles.

We believe these rules which limit those operators to retrofit, relocation or exit lease costs options, excludes the majority of our members and is discriminatory. We’re waiting to hear back from officials.

We remain critical of clean air zones as they’re currently designed; whilst we fully support the aim to improve air quality we believe the rules local authorities are forced to follow disproportionately targets commercial vehicles.