Local authority news CAZ update Bradfords clean air zone (CAZ) will now be launched this spring. It had been due to go live in January but more time has been given to allow businesses to use the Clean Air Funding available to upgrade vehicles. Greater Manchester is expected to launch its CAZ on 30 May 2022. Newcastles CAZ will take effect from July 2022 and the city council is awaiting a decision from the government about grant funding to help businesses change their vehicles to those with lower or zero emissions. Meanwhile, phase 2 of Glasgows low emission zone is set to come into effect on 31 May 2022, with a one-year grace period, meaning enforcement will start on 1 June 2023. Phase 1, which began in 2018, applies to bus services only, while phase 2 will affect all vehicles driving into the city centre. WPL proposal for city Leicester City Council is holding a consultation on introducing a workplace parking levy, which it says would help it deliver its ambitions for a well-connected and affordable citywide bus, cycling and walking network. The council has prepared a business case, and is asking people to submit their views. Go to bit.ly/PNFeb22LC by 13 March. Blitz on no-tax vehicles Middlesbrough Council removed five untaxed vehicles from North Ormesby during an operation with Cleveland Police, Thirteen Housing and other council departments late last year. Mayor Andy Preston said the action would send out a strong message to both law-abiding and law-breaking residents that any criminality in the community would not be accepted. NEPP reports North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) has published its Operational Report, Part 2: July 2021 to September 2021 (see http://ow.ly/l2vF50HmJAj). NEPP says its latest stats show a significant number of people are now getting in touch via its online services. Updates from councils across the UK Herefordshire crackdown on BB offenders Six people were successfully prosecuted for using someone elses Blue Badge in separate cases brought by Herefordshire Council in October 2021. Two had been prosecuted previously for committing using a stolen badge. The guilty parties were in breach of Those prosecuted misused a disabled persons parking badge by displaying guilty parties vehicles were parked in to someone with a disability or to avoid parking charges. Blue Badge abuse very seriously. Our civil spot checks on vehicles and the council will continue to prosecute those who misuse them. Worcester is the UK city with the most accessible parking, according to the results of a survey published by Nationwide Vehicle Contracts for Disability History Month. It showed that 96 per cent of the citys car parks offer accessible spaces for Blue Badge holders. Epsom came in second place (95 per cent) and Croydon ranked third (94 per cent). Liverpool keeps festive traffic moving Liverpool City Council joined forces with Merseytravel, Merseyside Police and bus operators Arriva and Stagecoach to help reduce traffic congestion during the festive period. The joint traffic management scheme has now operated for almost 10 years. It has proven successful in keeping people and vehicles moving through the city centre. Each organisation shares information and resources so they can respond more quickly to issues and more effectively manage movement. The initiative helps support Liverpools retail and hospitality businesses by reducing illegal parking and monitoring traffic flow to prevent gridlock and make sure that bus services remain as punctual as possible. Illegal parking, which causes traffic congestion at busy times, was addressed through parking enforcement in hot spot areas. Bus operators and highways staff also report illegal parking that they see causing a problem. Cllr Liam Robinson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Transport portfolio holder, said: By working together and sharing resources were being innovative in how we approach the issue, helping commuters and shoppers to get around as easily as possible and also addressing the resulting air pollution that congestion can cause. Parking reform in Bath and NE Somerset Changes to on-street parking permits Other changes include moving long- across Bath and North East Somerset parks and the introduction of digitised residents parking permits is based on a vehicles emissions. Vehicles are placed in a charging band according to their recorded CO2 or engine size where CO2 information The number of pay and display machines is also to be reduced as parking digitally. permits; digitised medical permits; and half-day paper visitor permits to support vulnerable residents unable to on-street parking are a really important part of our wider plans to achieve better air quality and encourage people to switch to low-emission vehicles. 14 britishparking.co.uk PN Feb 2022 pp14-15 LA News.indd 14 24/01/2022 16:05