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Bath motorists may be charged to enter spa city centre | Bath motorists may be charged to enter spa city centre |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Proposals for a "clean air charge" in Bath have sparked concerns over the impact on tourism. | |
The local council wants owners of high-emission vehicles, including tourist coaches and HGVs, to pay to enter a central clean air zone (CAZ). | |
Members of the spa city's tourist trade have pleaded with the authority for a "common sense" approach to the plan. | |
Bath & North East Somerset Council said it would have a "positive" effect on air quality. | |
The plan is part of the city's effort to meet government air quality targets by 2021. | |
It has made up to £3m available for a scheme that will include improving greener modes of public transport. | It has made up to £3m available for a scheme that will include improving greener modes of public transport. |
But the final plans, as well as costs for entering the zone, are yet to be finalised. | |
Under proposals outlined by the authority, a CAZ will affect an area with a 5m (8km) radius, including some of the city's central Georgian sites and its main shopping routes. | Under proposals outlined by the authority, a CAZ will affect an area with a 5m (8km) radius, including some of the city's central Georgian sites and its main shopping routes. |
In 2016, tourism contributed more than £430.5m to the local economy and was responsible for 10% of all employment in Banes. | |
Martin Curtis, of the Bath Bus Company - which runs open top bus tours - said his newer vehicles would not be affected by emissions demands, but their customer base could be. | |
"Our concern is the effect on Bath's tourism and trade as a whole," he said. | |
Steve Spiller, director of coach firm Centurion Travel, said he supported a clean air zone but hoped for a common sense approach from the council. | |
"If the level of emissions regulation is too strict from the offset, it will be impossible for coach companies to replace their vehicles in time," he said. | |
The company also busses about 600-700 pupils around Bath during term time, Mr Spiller said. | |
"We currently have six vehicles that meet the highest Euro Six standards, but if the CAZ rules are too severe, they will have to be allocated to the highest paying customers - schools will miss out because they won't be able to pay the higher costs." |
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