Birmingham Clean Air Zone delayed following vehicle checker tool problems

Newly launched government website found to give motorists inaccurate results about vehicle charges

Birmingham Clean Air Zone delayed following vehicle checker tool problems
Image: Bigstock.

Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is set to be delayed because the government’s newly launched online vehicle checking service has been giving “inaccurate” results.

Problems with the website, which allows drivers to check vehicle compliance, has caused delays by at least a month.

Birmingham City Council said once resolved there will be six months before the CAZ, originally earmarked for introduction in July, is launched.

Related: Government launches vehicle checker tool for UK’s clean air zones

Birmingham’s CAZ is designed to crack down on vehicles deemed high polluters in the city centre.

The checker went live on the Department for Transport’s (DfT) website earlier this month but the RAC said the system would clear some vehicles for use in London, but not in Birmingham, despite both cities having the same requirements.

Birmingham City Council leader Ian Ward said it was important people had time to check whether their vehicle complies before the CAZ is introduced.

Related: Sales ban of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars could start in 2032

Birmingham Clean Air Zone charges

The council had hoped the site would be ready by the end of the month, with the zone to be implemented by the end of August.

It would see high-polluting cars charged £8, while buses and HGV will get a £50 fee.

Birmingham was among five cities the government called on to establish a CAZ along with Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby.

Leeds’s plan is to charge taxis, buses, coaches and HGVs, not private cars.

In Southampton, plans to charge vehicles were dropped in January, while Nottingham ruled-out a CAZ and a final plan has not been created for Derby.

Will any of the new clean air zones impact you or your garage? Share your comments below.

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