Cardiff Council has proposed looking into the introduction of Congestion and Clean Air Zones to help tackle pollution in the city.

The proposal is to look into how a fair Road User Payment (RUP) scheme could not only help address poor levels of air quality, combat climate change, improve people’s health, and reduce congestion.

They have suggested it will also help deliver a modern, clean, and green transport network across the city with £1 bus fares, expanded bus services, new trams, and more train services.

The council wants to look at a range of schemes including, but not limited to, Road User Payments, Congestion Zones, Clean Air Zones and Workplace Parking Levies. However, at this stage, no decisions have been made on any scheme. And before any scheme is introduced several enhanced, public transport options would have to be up and running which could help people to reduce their reliance on the private car.

The following initiatives could be available before any road user payment was introduced:

The introduction of £1 bus fares on key routes.
Better and expanded bus services.
The delivery of the Phase 1 tram from Central Station to Pierhead Station in the Bay, Coryton and City Line frequency enhancements.
Improvements to regional commuting.

Over the coming months and years, the council will be asking residents, business, commuters, and stakeholders for their views on proposals it will bring forward.

Currently, road transport is responsible for 40% of C02e (carbon dioxide equivalent) emissions in Cardiff. This is the joint highest C02e figure measured for road transport among the UK’s 11 core cities, which include Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, and Sheffield.

Health data shows that air pollution affects us all and is associated with impacts on lung development in children, heart disease, stroke, cancer, exacerbation of asthma and increased mortality, among other ill-health effects.

It is estimated that on average life expectancy in the UK is reduced by 7-8 months due to air pollution. In towns and cities with air pollution levels above the UK average, including Cardiff, this figure is likely to be higher and people with chronic lung conditions are more likely to be susceptible to the effects of air pollution.

Wales has a higher prevalence of asthma than the European average, with 7% of adults in Cardiff diagnosed with asthma, and over 9,000 Cardiff residents registered with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Six percent of children aged 10-14 have asthma in Wales.

Cardiff Council is investigating the case for introducing a Road User Payment, but at this stage no decisions have been made on who would have to pay.

It will be important to introduce new transport options, which the public can use, at the same time as implementing any new road user payment system. Cardiff Council have said that it isn’t a quick process and some time will be needed to consult all stakeholders on the best options for the city. It could take many years to deliver and it’s unlikely it could happen before 2027.