Birmingham launches England’s first clean air zone outside London

8 charge for private cars to enter city centre is hailed as turning point to tackle poor air quality but some worry it will hit Covid recovery

Birmingham is to launch England's first clean air zone (CAZ) outside London to charge private cars, in a move hailed by campaigners as a major turning point for the former UK motor city" that has been plagued by poor air quality for years.

From 1 June drivers of older polluting cars, taxis and vans who travel into the centre of Birmingham will face a daily charge of 8, while buses, coaches and HGVs will be charged 50 a day. It is anticipated a quarter of cars in the city will be affected but there are temporary exemptions for commercial and community vehicles, and some workers and residents.