Bath's clean air charges to apply to emergency vehicles
Some police cars, ambulances and fire engines will be charged to enter Bath's clean air zone from next month after a four-year exemption ended.From 14 March, emergency service vehicles, including those used by voluntary support groups, will have to pay if they do not meet the zone's emission standards.Bath & North East Somerset Council has insisted that only a limited number of vehicles will be affected.However, more than half of Avon Fire Authority's fleet is not yet compliant and it will take another six years for it to become so, according to a report.
The report outlines a request for councillors to approve a three-year budget that includes a £4.8m investment in the fire service's fleet, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.The document, which will be presented to the Avon Fire Authority committee on Friday, said electric and hydrogen vehicles were roughly twice the cost of petrol and diesel models.Avon and Somerset Police, meanwhile, appears to be better prepared for the end of the exemption.A force spokesperson said its fleet now has more than 200 hybrid and electric vehicles, with just 66 vehicles currently subject to the clean air charge, of which half are due to be replaced imminently.
The force said just one non-compliant vehicle was stationed at Bath, with its replacement due before the exemption ends.The spokesperson underlined the importance of collaboration with the council in reducing the emissions of the police fleet, and said the force had won the "public sector car fleet of the year" category at the Green Fleet Awards in 2024.Deputy council leader Sarah Warren said the authority had "worked closely with emergency service providers" since the introduction of the CAZ in 2021.She said the council was "continuing our conversations" regarding non-compliant vehicles to support changes such as upgrades and retrofitting.A spokesperson for the the fire service said it was in negotiations with the council.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
05-05-2025
- BBC News
Plans submitted for Garforth dog daycare centre
Dog owners could have their pets looked after at a new day care centre and grooming salon if plans are agreed with the care firm The Doggie Stop Ltd has applied to convert a vacant warehouse at Lotherton Business Park in to 15 dogs would be accommodated at the centre each day while their owners were at work, along with six pets booked in for grooming appointments.A planning report said jobs would be created if Leeds City Council gave consent for a change of use of the building. It said: "It is anticipated that the new facility will provide jobs not only within the daycare itself but also through ancillary services such as pet grooming, training and retail."The centre would allow dog owners to go to work without worrying about their pets' well-being, the report and safety measures would be in place to ensure the safety of dogs and staff, according to the Local Democracy Reporting report said: "All dogs will be kept on leads when outside of the building."Dogs subject to a test who demonstrate good recall will be let off in a secure dog park when appropriate." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- BBC News
Skipton: First new council housing in decades approved for town
The first new council homes are set to be built in Skipton for decades, councillors have Yorkshire Council is set to spend £84,000 buying 12 new houses that are part of a 53-home development on Airedale Avenue. The properties will be allocated to families on the council's housing waiting list with priority given to those with a local connection to the market town, before being offered to those elsewhere in North new housing is expected to be completed in phases between March 2026 and December 2026. Council officials said there was a high level of housing need within the former Craven district, with almost 700 applicants on the these, Skipton has the highest concentration of people on the waiting list, according to the Local Democracy Reporting new housing has been welcomed by councillor Simon Myers, who said: "I would think they're the first new council homes in Skipton for 40 years."It's only a drop in the ocean compared to the hundreds on the register, but it does mean that 12 families get on the waiting list and into a new, good home."As well as the 12 houses bought for rent by the council, four other homes will be acquired by Bracewell Homes, the authority's separate shared ownership housing council approved its housing revenue account 30-year business plan last document includes the delivery of 500 new council homes over the next five years to majority of the funding to buy the properties will come from the authority's housing revenue account, with around £39,000 coming from right-to-buy housing development has full planning approval and work is due to start on site in early 2026. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
20-04-2025
- BBC News
National Trust's East Riddlesden Hall to get electric vehicle charging points
Electric vehicle charging points will be installed on the grounds of one of the Bradford district's oldest National Trust has been granted planning permission to make a number of changes to the car park area at East Riddlesden Hall, just outside of changes include resurfacing the Grade I listed building's upper car park, creating a more accessible route for disabled will have new accessible parking bays, as well as four EV charging bays. East Riddlesden Hall is a 17th Century manor house and one of the area's top tourist application by the National Trust said proposals had been kept to a minimum to balance visitors' experience with conserving the natural and historic said the work "will enhance the overall use and enjoyment of the estate as a whole", according to the Local Democracy Reporting application was approved by Bradford Council which said the car park and its surroundings would not be significantly changed due to them being "quite heavily screened" by trees and vegetation. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
