Bath’s Clean Air Zone is set to be the first to launch outside of London after delays and rethinks in other cities.

A start date is yet to be decided after it was pushed back from November, but is likely to be as early as possible next year. 

Other cities have scrapped their Clean Air Zone proposals in favour of other measures, or put their plans on hold because of the pandemic, but Bath and North East Somerset Council is pressing ahead. 

Transport Manager, Chris Major, said: “Air quality is a massive health risk for residents of Bath and North East Somerset.

“It has whole-life impacts. The impact of Covid and link to air quality are becoming more and more clear. We were due to go live with the Clean Air Zone in November. 

“Traffic levels fell by 70 per cent in lockdown. They’re now 10 per cent below where we expect to be. Nitrogen dioxide levels are back up to where they were. 

“The Government is still committed for us to deliver this scheme as soon as possible. We are likely to be the first in the country to launch.” LDRS, Stephen Sumner