The good news is that Birmingham City Council has also announced a short grace period until 14 June in order to help the transition, during which time vehicles that don’t meet the new regulations will not be charged to drive in the city’s CAZ.
From the revised date, though, operators of non-compliant vehicles will have to pay to enter the designated area, with HGVs not meeting Euro 6 standards facing a daily charge of £50.
The Birmingham CAZ has been brought in to improve air quality after emissions in the city were found to be over legal limits. The restrictions cover all roads within the A4540 Middleway, but not the Middleway itself.
You can pay up to six days in advance of any visit, on the day, or within six days of visit, but you face a fine of up to £120 (reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days) for any failure to pay the CAZ charge.
While I support the overall ethos and ambitions of CAZs, I’m equally aware of the impact they can have on operators currently trying hard to stay afloat after the double-whammy of Brexit and COVID-19.
While the demands on operators remain high as a result of Brexit and COVID-19, CAZs and LEZs should take account of the harshness of current operating conditions wherever possible.
Nobody wants to see operators pushed under because of their present financial hardships. Here at Dawsongroup truck and trailer, we have affordable options to keep operators clear of the threat of CAZ non-compliance fines.
For example, rental, lease or contract hire of compliant vehicles allows operators to carry on their business in the affected areas: doing so without any impact on capital investment.
In fact, acquiring vehicles this way even allows operators to dispose of their old vehicles and enjoy any capital returns generated, possibly for investment into other areas of their businesses.
Environment issues are not going away any time soon. However, operators looking to overcome the earliest impacts of green legislation, and they will only increase as other regions implement their own CAZ regulations and charges, can’t afford to ‘hold their breath’ and wait to see what happens next.
It costs nothing to talk to us at Dawsongroup truck and trailer, and it’s worth doing as soon as you can. To discuss how you can avoid CAZ charges, call us on 0800 032 9766 or contact your local branch.
You have nothing to lose except the endlessly rising costs of maintaining older vehicles, and the ever-growing risk of major charges and possible fines.
John Fletcher, Managing Director