Newcastle: Clean Air Zone fees for some vans and LGVs

There are signs warning drivers about the charges

Drivers using the worst-polluting light goods vehicles (LGVs) will now be charged a daily fee of £12.50 if they drive into Newcastle city centre.

The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was extended to the next band of drivers on 17 July after it came into force in January.

More than £380,000 was raised in the first five months, with £172,000 made up of fines for not paying the charge, BBC Radio Newcastle has learned.

Newcastle City Council said the money would be spent on clean air projects.

It said it had to act after the government said it must "reduce illegal levels of air pollution caused by traffic".

Premature deaths

Those with older vehicles can apply for grants towards cleaner vehicles.

The CAZ covers Newcastle city centre and routes over the Tyne, Swing, Redheugh and High Level bridges.

Taxis, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and HGVs that do not have compliant engines are charged a toll.

However, charges do not apply to private cars, motorbikes - or any vehicles that have a Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol engine.

Jane Byrne, the city council's Labour cabinet member responsible for transport, said it had "reminded" drivers who would be affected from Monday.

"There are a number of things people can do in advance - including checking whether their vehicle will be charged and checking whether their journeys cover routes within the CAZ," she said.

"There is also still time to apply for a grant of up to £4,500 towards the cost of a cleaner vehicle."

Small business fears

CAZ charges on LGVs were delayed by six months due to supply chain problems which prevented some people from upgrading to cleaner vehicles, reported the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

More than 300 premature deaths on Tyneside have been linked to poor air quality, prompting the introduction of charges, the council said.

However, some small and independent businesses have raised concerns over the fees amid the cost of living crisis.

Licensed taxi drivers, who live outside the area, claimed there was no support and could no longer afford to accept jobs to the city.

Newcastle City Council said the fees were not a "tax-raising scheme"

Paul Banning, from Belle Vue Estates based in Low Fell, Gateshead, said it was "another cost" to local businesses who needed to travel north and south of the Tyne.

He said one sub-contractor told him it would stick with his business in Gateshead, rather than travelling into Newcastle.

"We do have two vehicles that we can't use any more to get across the Tyne Bridge unless we pay the £12.50 per day - that's £62.50 per week if you look at a five-day week," he added.

"As we are a small business we have to keep our fees low to compete with the internet-based national companies whose fees are very low.

"It will mean that we will probably have to absorb the costs into our business rather than pass it onto our customer because it may start to make us too expensive to compete."