Isle of Wight drivers with older, more polluting vehicles - who expect to regularly travel through Portsmouth's new Clean Air Zone - are being encouraged to go greener.
A £3.2M Clean Air Fund is being made available by Portsmouth City Council for owners of non-private vehicles, that will need to pay when travelling within the zone.
The city council says the funding will help drivers upgrade or retrofit their vehicles, making them cleaner and greener.
Portsmouth's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) launches in November 2021 - and could catch out some vehicles needing to get to Wightlink's terminal.
How does it work?
The most polluting vehicles that travel within the boundary of the Clean Air Zone will be charged.
In the Portsmouth CAZ, these are buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles and heavy goods vehicles and any vehicles that don't meet Euro 6 emissions standards (if diesel) or Euro 4 emissions standards (if petrol).
Under current plans, private vehicles, vans and newer, cleaner vehicles won't be charged.
Portsmouth City Council was issued with a ministerial directive in March 2020 to introduce a Class B charging CAZ in the south west of the city as soon as possible to bring forward compliance with legal limits for air pollution to 2022.
The area of the CAZ has been thoroughly investigated to make sure air pollution levels are reduced in the shortest possible time.
How to apply
Any drivers or operators of these 'non-compliant' vehicles can apply for the grant at www.portsmouth.gov.uk/cleanairzone.
As part of the application process people will need to show evidence of how regularly they enter the CAZ, how long they've been trading for and details of their non-compliant vehicle(s).
Anyone who successfully receives a grant can retrofit or upgrade their older, more polluting vehicle(s).
This means drivers of these vehicles will not be charged to enter the CAZ.
Portsmouth City Council has also appointed a dedicated team of engagement officers to help affected drivers and business owners with applications for grants, as well as answer any queries they may have.
Each officer has responsibility for a specific group of affected drivers - taxi and private hire vehicle operators, HGV operators and bus or coach operators.
Islanders can also call the team for support with applications at 023 9283 4593, or email [email protected] to arrange for one of the officers to visit.
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