NOW that the public consultation on whether to introduce toll charges to use bridges in Newcastle or introduce a Clean Air Zone in the area has ended, the question on everybody's lips is what happens next?
More than 11,000 responded to an air quality consultation provided by Newcastle City Council which highlighted plans which included banning certain vehicles from entering the city centre by creating a Clean Air Zone or introducing charges for all vehicles across bridges entering Newcastle.
The consultation follows an order made by the Government in 2017 for Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils to reduce pollution in certain hotspots where nitrogen dioxide levels were above legal limits. The areas highlighted were part of the A167 Central Motorway and Tyne Bridge, a section of the A1058 Coast Road, and stretches of the A1 past Swalwell, Whickham and Blaydon.
The consultation closed at midnight on Friday and the results will be assessed and announced in July. Feedback will then be prepared for Government approval later this year and, if approved, will be implemented in January 2021.
If a Clean Air Zone is introduced, vehicles which omit high emissions will be charged to use some main roads in the area. The charges would be as follow:
Heavy goods vehicles - £50 per day
Buses - £50 per day
Coaches - £50 per day
Taxis / private hire vehicles - £12.50 per day
Vans - £12.50 per day
Private cars - £12.50 per day
The toll charges to use the city's bridges would be as follow:
Heavy goods vehicles: £3.40 per journey
Vans: £1.70 per journey
Cars: £1.70 per journey
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