Camera installation begins in Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone

Thirty-nine cameras that automatically recognise number plates are starting to be installed in Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ), ahead of it going live in November.

This information will be used to check whether a vehicle needs to pay the clean air zone charge and are being installed now to help ensure they are tested and working correctly before the zone launches in full in November.

Private cars and vans won’t be charged to drive in the Portsmouth CAZ, but could be charged in other clean air zones in the UK. Only vehicles that don’t meet Euro 6 emissions standards (if diesel) or Euro 4 emissions standards (if petrol) will be charged.

The most polluting ‘non-compliant’ vehicles will be charged daily for driving in the zone. These non-compliant vehicles include heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), buses, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles.

Non-compliant taxis and private hire vehicles will be charged £10 a day to drive through the zone, and non-compliant HGVs, buses and coaches will be charged £50 a day.

Cllr Dave Ashmore, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environment, said “I want to reassure residents in the zone that these cameras will only be used to operate the clean air zone that the government says we have to have to tackle air pollution in the city. I hope the letters we send out ahead of the zone going live will help businesses and residents prepare for the changes ahead.”

To find out more about Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone, as well as test drive some of the latest zero emission vehicles, GREENFLEET is working with Portsmouth City Council to host the Net Zero Roadshow for the South and South West on 7 October. Register here for free.