Greens respond to the council’s much-delayed Clean Air Zone

The Bristol Green Party welcomes the proposed clean air zone, but raise concerns about delays and continued lack of detail. 

Green mayoral candidate, Sandy Hore-Ruthven, said:

‘Clean air could save 300 lives each year in Bristol, and we welcome the final decision to implement a Clean Air Zone that we’ve been calling for for four years.

‘But because the Mayor has been running down the clock for so long, there are no plans to improve public transport, businesses will have to scramble to upgrade their vehicles and parts of the city risk becoming unofficial park and rides.

If we are going to tackle the challenges we face cleaning up our environment we need to take bold and clear action, give people time to plan and not dither and delay like our Labour Mayor.’

Green Candidate for Windmill Hill, Ed Plowden, added:

‘The Council’s own modelling shows that areas on the edge of the zone like Windmill Hill will suffer from an increase in traffic.

‘These will be the heaviest and dirtiest vehicles, using streets on the edge of the zone to avoid paying the charge, which is going to be particularly damaging to the health of local residents.

‘The Mayor’s four years of dithering and refusal to allow more Residents’ Parking Zones means there is now no time to put in place measures to reduce the damage to local people’s health and well-being. After years of waiting the plan still lacks so much important detail. The Green Party will work hard and as quickly as possible to help local people make the best of the situation.’

More information about the Clean Air Zone can be found here.