Consultation on Traffic Clean Air Zone options

We asked

The consultation on the Traffic Clean Air Zone options was open for six weeks from Monday 1 July to Monday 12 August 2019. Individual responses were received via the online survey, with people being asked how concerned they are about the health impacts of poor air quality in Bristol. It also sought feedback from citizens, businesses and other stakeholders on the two potential options.

Paper copies of the survey and alternative accessible formats, including language translations, were available on request. Paper copies of the survey were also available in all libraries and the Citizen Service Point. Additional survey responses were garnered through seven drop-in sessions and via face-to-face interviews with the Youth Council and in 11 areas of the city which have historically low response rates, high deprivation and/or high proportions of black, Asian & minority ethnic (BAME) citizens.

More information about what we consulted on is available in the consultation report.

You said

We received 5,034 responses to the consultation, the results of which are available here.

5,001 (99%) of the 5,034 respondents answered the question ‘how concerned are you about the impacts of poor air quality in Bristol on your health and the health of your family?’

There is a high level of concern about the health impacts of poor air quality among respondents, and health concerns are higher still among Bristol respondents.

85% of all respondents and 88% of Bristol respondents are very concerned or moderately concerned, with 61% (66% for Bristol respondents) stating they are very concerned and 24% (22% of Bristol respondents) being moderately concerned.

10% of all respondents and 9% of Bristol respondents are slightly concerned.

Only 5% of all respondents and 3% of Bristol respondents are not concerned.

Of the 5,034 people who responded to the Traffic Clean Air Zones consultation, 4,966 (99%) stated how strongly they agree or disagree that Option 1 (Clean Air Zone - private cars not charged) is a good way to improve air quality in Bristol.

More than two thirds of all respondents (69%) agree or strongly agree that Option 1 is a good way to improve air quality (39% strongly agree and 32% agree). This is more than three times the 21% of all respondents who disagree or strongly disagree. 11% neither agree nor disagree.

For Option 1, Bristol respondents share similar views to all respondents, with slightly higher proportions agreeing or strongly agreeing compared to all respondents.

4,971 respondents (99%) stated how strongly they agree or disagree that Option 2 (Diesel car ban) is a good way to improve air quality in Bristol.

More than half of all respondents (55%) agree or strongly agree that Option 2 is a good way to improve air quality (32% strongly agree and 23% agree). This is more than one and a half times the 34% of all respondents who disagree or strongly disagree. 11% neither agree nor disagree (the same proportion as for Option 1).

Bristol respondents view the Option 2 diesel car ban more favourably than all respondents. 59% of Bristol respondents agree or strongly agree, almost twice the 30% who disagree or strongly disagree. 11% neither agree nor disagree that Option 2 is a good way to improve air quality.

We did

Along with rigorous technical analysis of a number of options, the consultation feedback was used to develop the Outline Business Case (OBC) of the clean air plans which were put before Cabinet on Tuesday 5th November. Following approval by Cabinet, the plans were submitted to the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) for their consideration.

The council is continuing to work closely with JAQU on preparing the Full Business Case for submission next year. As part of the Full Business Case, there will be direct engagement with all businesses and residents affected to help manage implementation, including details of mitigations measures and exemptions. The deadline for the implementation of the plans is March 2021.

For further information on the clean air plans, visit www.cleanairforbristol.org