Sadiq Khan's threat of a new charge on vehicles driving into London would 'erect a barrier around the capital' and 'hurt everyone', senior Tories have warned. Veteran MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa Villiers blasted the Mayor's idea of an up to £5.50-per-day levy on cars entering the outer boroughs of the capital. They pointed out the huge volume of firemen, police and paramedics who live outside the city could be slapped with an eye-watering £33-a-day commute. It would be for those paying the new amount as well as the Congestion Charge and ULEZ - such as a nurse living in Kent but driving to work at St Thomas's Hospital. The GLA Conservatives drafted the letter, seen by MailOnline, to Mr Khan as he grapples with the government for yet more money to be pumped into London. The scheme would take up to two years to bring in, meaning it would not be ready until after London has bounced back from the crisis Veteran MPs such as Iain Duncan Smith and Theresa Villiers blasted the Mayor's idea of an up to £5.50-per-day levy on cars entering the outer boroughs of the capital. Mr Khan is pictured last week Will I be hit by Ulez and how much will it cost me? Many more motorists will be liable for a daily charge after London's Ultra Low Emission Zone was expanded. Here are 12 key questions about the scheme: - What vehicles are affected? It depends how much nitrogen dioxide it emits, which is generally linked to its age. For diesel cars, most of those that meet the minimum standard were first registered after September 2015. Compliant petrol cars are typically those registered after 2005. - How can I check the status of my vehicle? Transport for London is urging people to use its online checker by visiting www.tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/check-your-vehicle. - What is the charge for non-compliant vehicles? The daily fee is £12.50 for cars, motorcycles and vans up to 3.5 tonnes. Heavier vehicles, including lorries, buses and coaches, are charged £100. - When do charges apply? All day, every day of the year except on Christmas Day. - What is the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez)? It is an area in London where drivers of older, more polluting vehicles are charged a daily fee. - What changed in October? It previously only covered parts of central London, but it became 18 times larger. - What are the new boundaries? The Ulez was extended to include all areas within the North and South Circular roads. - Who has done this and why? The change has been implemented by London mayor Sadiq Khan in an attempt to improve air quality in the capital. - How quickly do I have to pay? You have until midnight on the third day after the journey. - How do I do it? You can pay online through TfL's website, using the Pay to Drive in London app, or by phone. Drivers also have the option of setting up automatic billing so they are charged monthly. - What happens if I do not pay? You could be handed a Penalty Charge Notice for £160, reduced to £80 if paid within a fortnight. - Where does the money go? TfL says the cash it receives from the Ulez is reinvested into improving London's transport network and to improve air quality. It insists 'we don't make a profit' from the scheme. Advertisement The note, by 51 Tory politicians, said: 'Charging drivers to enter the capital flies in the face of your ''London is Open'' message and ''Let's Do London'' campaign. 'It would erect a barrier around Greater London, keeping visitors, customers and workers away, benefiting no-one and hurting everyone.' The plan would involve drivers with vehicles registered outside the city having to pay once they enter boroughs such as Croydon, Enfield, Hillingdon and Havering. Enforcing the changes and any infrastructure is under review, but camera coverage is already in place on the Greater London Boundary for the Low Emission Zone. The politicians said the proposed charge would see pay slashed by up to £1,000 a year for those regularly heading into the city. They said it would also split communities from their nearest town centre, school or hospital and impact police officers and firefighters. And some commuters would have to pay staggering charges of up to £33-per-day due to the new levy, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone. The letter continued: 'For Outer London, a boundary charge would penalise people visiting family and friends. 'It would hurt local businesses and high streets which rely on customers and visitors from outside the capital. 'It would also deter people living outside the boundary from working in Greater London, undermining our businesses and public services.' The document, organised by AM for Bexley and Bromley Peter Fortune, added: 'Over half of London's police officers and firefighters live outside the capital. 'According to a London NHS Trust, one-fifth of its staff, doctors and nurses could be hit by the charge. 'A survey of schools in the London Borough of Bromley also revealed that many teachers live outside the capital. 'One school said that 40 per cent of its employees could be hit by the charge, warning that it would struggle to retain and recruit teaching staff.' Mr Khan has threatened the Greater London Boundary Charge throughout the pandemic as a way to raise cash to bail out City Hall. Last year he suggested a scheme like it to reduce the number of journeys by up to 15 per cent and raise £500million a year. The Labour Mayor said at the time: 'Ministers have failed to play fair by Londoners when it comes to financing our world-renowned transport system. 'It is high time they did so. Londoners pay £500m worth of Vehicle Excise Duty every year, which is then spent on maintaining roads outside the capital. 'It is not fair on London that our drivers should subsidise the rest of the country's roads and get nothing in return.' The vehicle excise duty is currently taken from drivers who live in London but spent mostly outside the capital. Public transport into and around the city was desolate for months due to most businesses letting their staff work from home to avoid spreading the virus. Officials have been looking into whether a new Greater London Boundary Charge could work for non-Londoners, with the cash being pumped back into city services. But the scheme would take up to two years to bring in, meaning it would not be ready until after London has bounced back from the crisis. Up to 1.3million vehicles travel into London each week, with one million into the outer boroughs. They could face huge charges getting into and driving around the city, with an expanded ULEZ and Congestion Charge zone already in place. £12.50 ULEZ zone: The ULEZ covered the red area of central London from Westminster to the City of London. But it expanded up to, but not including, the North and South Circular Road (shown in yellow), on October 25 £15 Congestion Charge zone: This map shows the area of the congestion charge which drivers of non-electric vehicles pay to enter Central London from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week. The ULEZ is charged on top of the Congestion Charge Will you face a vehicle emissions tax where you live? Pollution zones are being rolled out across the country in the next 12 months, meaning many owners of older cars will either have to buy a new one or face hefty charges What are the fees and charging times for London drivers? £15 Congestion Charge: 7am to 10pm, seven days of the week, every day of the year, except December 25. Will apply to all non-electric vehicles from October 25. £12.50 Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ): Operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year, except December 25. Applies to all petrol cars made before 2006 and diesel cars made before 2015. £100 Low Emission Zone (LEZ): Operates 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Applies to vans and trucks that do not meet 'Euro 3 standard. Most vans and trucks made after 2001 meet the standard . Advertisement In October Londoners blasted Mr Khan's ULEZ expansion because they say it has left them facing an extra five mile trip to avoid being 'taxed to recycle'. Residents in leafy Richmond say their local waste centre has been sucked into the ultra-low emission zone following its expansion on Monday. It means residents living in the town and driving older vehicles face a £12.50 charge if they want to take their recycling to the local tip. The zone was expanded to cover all areas within the North and South Circular roads - home to some 3.8 million people - in a bid to lower emissions in the capital. As a result, Townmead Road Re-use and Recycling Centre in Richmond, south west London, is now in the ULEZ zone. But the nearby district of Richmond, which the recycling centre serves, is not. Residents said the move is 'wholly unfair' on members of the community who 'just want to do that right thing'. And they have been further enraged after Mr Khan urged them to drive to a recycling centre in Hounslow - a journey which is more than three times the distance. The ULEZ zone expansion was introduced to make the previous zone 18 times larger. The zone now encompasses areas within the north and south circular roads and has been expanded in a bid to tackle air pollution and reduce NO2 levels which can be harmful to lungs ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ULEZ The ultra-low emission zone (ULEZ) was introduced in London in April 2019. Here are some of the key questions around the scheme: What is it? The ULEZ is a way of charging vehicles which emit the most nitrogen oxide for entering parts of London. When does it apply? The daily charge runs from midnight to midnight every day. Where is it happening? The scheme is within the same area as the congestion charging zone, before being expanded to within the North and South Circular roads from October 2021. What vehicles are included? All vehicles are affected apart from black taxis. It applies to all petrol cars made before 2006 and diesel cars made before 2015. London residents are not excluded. How much does it cost to enter the zone with an older vehicle? It costs £12.50 for most vehicle types, including cars, motorcycles and vans. Heavier vehicles such as lorries, buses and coaches are liable for a £100 charge. How can I avoid the charge? To be exempt from the Ulez charge, petrol cars, vans and minibuses must meet the Euro 4 emissions standard and diesels must meet Euro 6. That means the oldest cars that can be driven in central London without paying are roughly a four-year-old diesel model or a 13-year-old petrol model. What happens if I don't pay? If you fail to pay the charge, car drivers face a £160 Penalty Charge Notice (reduced to £80 if paid within 14 days). Lorry drivers will be handed a much larger fine of £1,000 (reduced to £500 if paid within 14 days). What if I don't know my vehicle's emissions standard? Drivers can check whether their vehicle is liable for a charge by entering its registration on the Transport for London website. Advertisement It has operated since April 2019, but previously only covered the same area of central London as the Congestion Charge. It now includes all areas within the North and South Circular roads in an attempt to boost air quality. Drivers of vehicles which do not comply with minimum emissions standards are being now being charged £12.50-a-day. For diesel cars to avoid the charge they must generally have been first registered after September 2015, while most petrol models registered from 2005 are also exempt. It is another blow for drivers and comes as the price of petrol hit a new record high. Around 130,000 drivers are thought to be impacted. As part of the expansion, recycling centre now falls just short of the A205 South Circular boundary which runs over Kew Bridge and is exempt from the emissions tax. A camera will capture anyone leaving the recycling centre or Mortlake Crematorium on Townmead Road. Councillors and residents are concerned about accessing key services and said people who are trying to save the planet or bury their loved ones could end up being penalised. Angry residents were also quick to point out the contradiction of cutting back emissions while dissuading people from recycling. A survey taken at the time found three in five motorists were unaware London's pollution charge zone for older vehicles was being expanded. Only 43 per cent of drivers said they are aware of the expansion, according to the study by car sales website Motorway. Just a third - 35 per cent - surveyed knew how to check if their vehicle was compliant with ULEZ. Meanwhile even fewer were confident about the extended zone's new boundaries, the poll of more than 2,000 revealed. Three quarters of the panel surveyed live in Greater London and the remainder within an hour of the capital. The Mayor of London has been approached for comment. GLA Conservatives' letter to Sadiq Khan in full: Dear Mr Mayor, We are writing to request you rule out the introduction of a boundary charge for drivers entering Greater London in the latest Transport for London (TfL) bailout negotiations. As outlined in TfL's Financial Sustainability Plan, your proposal to charge up to £5.50 to drive into the capital would seriously hurt Outer London and the Home Counties. Around 1.35 million vehicles drive into Greater London each weekday. Of these trips, one million are into Outer London. A majority of these vehicles are registered outside the capital, so liable to pay your proposed daily boundary charge. This means at least 675,000 motorists would be hit by the charge each day. According to TfL's initial estimates, the number of weekday car trips into Greater London would fall by 8%, that's 108,000 fewer visitors a day. Let's be clear what these figures mean for our communities inside the capital and out. For Outer London, a boundary charge would penalise people visiting family and friends. It would hurt local businesses and high streets which rely on customers and visitors from outside the capital. It would also deter people living outside the boundary from working in Greater London, undermining our businesses and public services. Over half of London's police officers and firefighters live outside the capital. According to a London NHS Trust, one-fifth of its staff, doctors and nurses could be hit by the charge. A survey of schools in the London Borough of Bromley also revealed that many teachers live outside the capital. One school said that 40% of its employees could be hit by the charge, warning that it would struggle to retain and recruit teaching staff. For the Home Counties, a boundary charge would mean a substantial pay cut of up to £1,000 a year for people who regularly drive into Greater London for work. It would also separate some communities from their nearest town centre, school or hospital. Many could face charges of up to £33 a day to drive into the capital - the combined cost of the Greater London Boundary Charge, Congestion Charge and Ultra Low Emission Zone. It also punishes people who are only able to access London's public transport network by driving to places such as Stanmore and Epping. Unlike central London, many places in Outer London and neighbouring communities, like Harefield in Hillingdon and Biggin Hill in Bromley, have poor public transport links. If you are genuinely concerned by the number of cars driving into the capital, you should look at the public transport provision in Outer London. Rather than imposing new road taxes, you need to give people a real alternative to driving and install electric charging points to enable people to switch to electric vehicles. Fundamentally, charging drivers to enter the capital flies in the face of your 'London is Open' message and 'Let's Do London' campaign. It would erect a barrier around Greater London, keeping visitors, customers and workers away, benefiting no-one and hurting everyone. Despite assuring the London Assembly back in June that TfL would publish a feasibility report into the charge, they are yet to do so. However, you continue to threaten this tax despite not knowing the impact it would have on people and businesses. You cannot push the bill for the failed policies and mismanagement of your mayoralty onto others. It is a fact that TfL has already lost billions of pounds before the pandemic even hit. Irresponsibly freezing fares cost at least £640 million in lost revenue. The delay to Crossrail has cost nearly £4 billion in bailouts and lost TfL £1.35 billion in fares revenue. TfL's perks, bonuses and golden pensions waste millions of pounds a year. UK taxpayers will continue to keep London moving through this crisis. You do not need to threaten them. But, you do need to do your bit to balance TfL's books. We urge you to drop your boundary charge proposal as you enter new negotiations on a further bailout for TfL. This will be the fourth bailout and build on the almost £5 billion the Government has provided to keep London moving. Instead of making threats, we call on you to constructively work with the Government to agree on a funding settlement that works for London and the entire country. Yours sincerely, Peter Fortune, AM for Bexley and Bromley Nickie Aiken, MP for Cities of London and Westminster Gareth Bacon, MP for Orpington Shaun Bailey, London-wide AM John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay Emma Best, London-wide AM Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East Cllr Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Leader of the Conservative Group in Hammersmith and Fulham Andrew Bof, London-wide AM Felicity Buchan, MP for Kensington Elliot Colburn, MP for Carshalton and Wallington Cllr Oliver Cooper, Leader of the Conservative Group in Camden Cllr Kevin Davis, Leader of the Conservative Group in Kingston upon Thames Tony Devenish, AM for West Central Cllr Tom Drummond, Leader of the Conservative Group in Sutton Cllr Ian Edwards, Leader of Hillingdon Council Sir David Evennett, MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup Neil Garratt, AM for Croydon and Sutton Susan Hall, London-wide AM Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon Cllr Paul Hodgins, Leader of the Conservative Group in Richmond upon Thames Adam Holloway, MP for Gravesham Cllr Linda Huggett, Leader of the Conservative Group in Redbridge Cllr Tim James, Leader of the Conservative Group in Waltham Forest Gareth Johnson, MP for Dartford Cllr Joanne Laban, Leader of the Conservative Group in Enfield Julia Lopez, MP for Hornchurch and Upminster Joy Morrissey, MP for Beaconsfield Sir Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst Cllr Teresa O'Neill, Leader of Bexley Council Cllr Paul Osborn, Leader of the Conservative Group in Harrow Cllr Jason Perry, Leader of the Conservative Group in Croydon Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South Keith Prince, AM for Havering and Redbridge Nick Rogers, AM for South West Andrew Rosindell, MP for Romford Dean Russell, MP for Watford Paul Scully, MP for Sutton and Cheam David Simmonds, MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner Cllr Colin Smith, Leader of Bromley Council Henry Smith, MP for Crawley Sir Iain Duncan Smith, MP for Chingford and Woodford Green Dr Ben Spencer, MP for Runnymede and Weybridge Cllr Gregory Stafford, Leader of the Conservative Group in Ealing Colonel Bob Stewart, MP for Beckenham Cllr Daniel Thomas, Leader of Barnet Council Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet Cllr Damian White, Leader of Havering Council Advertisement Will you be charged to drive where you live? Up to 300k motorists added to £12.50 London ULEZ - here's 14 areas where similar zones are imminent An extra 300,000 motorists living in - or commuting into - London now face a daily charge of £12.50 to use their motors following the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in the capital. Introduced in April 2019, the zone has been extended to 18 times its original size and is set to hit the poorest residents in the capital who cannot afford to replace their older cars for newer models that are exempt from the daily charge. But it's not just Londoners who are going to be stung each day they get behind the wheel of their vehicles. Drivers of older cars in some 15 cities will soon have to come to terms with the concept of emissions tax zones that could turn vehicle ownership from a convenience to a financial burden. Will you face a vehicle emissions tax where you live? Pollution zones are being rolled out across the country in the next 12 months, meaning many owners of older cars will either have to buy a new one or face hefty charges Under government orders, councils have been told to curb their air pollution levels - and to do so, they should rid their roads of the dirtiest vehicles. Birmingham has already introduced its Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in June 2021, demanding an £8 payment each time a user of a non-compliant vehicle enters the boundary around the city centre. We outline which cities have plans for similar zones to be in place before the end of 2022 - though not all of them affecting car drivers. Here's a guide to each one and when they are expected to launch. LONDON - Introduced (expanded on 25 October 2021) What is it: Ultra Low Emission Zone charging older petrol and diesel vehicles in the capital When is it going to be introduced: Enforced in the Congestion Charge Zone from 8 April 2019 - expanded 18 times in size to inner London on 25 October 2021 Emission tax type: ULEZ Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis (registered black cabs exempt), private hire vehicles (PHVs), heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs) and car drivers Cost to car drivers: £12.50 daily charge if a diesel car isn't Euro 6 or petrol isn't at least Euro 4 The capital's ULEZ was first enforced within the limits of the Congestion Charge Zone from 8 April 2019 and on 25 October 221 was expanded to cover most of inner London. Drivers of diesel cars not adhering to Euro 6 emissions standards (generally registered from 2016) and petrols failing to meet Euro 4 (generally registered from 2006) have to stump up £12.50 a day to enter the zone. That's on top of the £15 a day Congestion Charge, taking the current total for entering central London to £24 if you don't have a compliant motor. ULEZ is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week apart from Christmas Day. It's a daily charge, which means if you enter the zone at 23:00 and leave at 02:00, you will need to pay twice (£25). Driving a non-compliant car into the capital just once a week will rack up an annual bill of £650 – more than many drivers pay for insurance and road tax combined. Using an ineligible car five days a week will hammer drivers with a £3,250 bill per annum. It is enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras on the outskirts of the zones and failed payment within 24 hours of entering the zone will result in fines of £160 (halved to £80 if paid within two weeks). Cleaner capital: London's ULEZ has been expanded to 18 times its original size and now covers much of the capital within the boundaries of its outer ring roads The capital's Ultra Low Emission Zone has been enforced in Central London since April 2019. However, from 25 October 2021 it has been expanded to cover much of the city, with up to 300k people predicted to face the driving tax if £12.50 each day The ULEZ extended on 25 October 2021 to cover the hugely-populated area up to, but not including, the A406 North Circular and A205 South Circular roads - and there is no resident discount available. TfL estimates that 100,000 cars per day will be affected by the ULEZ expansion along with 35,000 vans and 3,000 HGVs. Is your car CAZ, LEZ, ULEZ and ZEZ compliant? Knowing your car's Euro emissions rating is more important than ever, given the increasing number of levies and fines being introduced for older cars, especially diesels. Most Clean Air, Low Emission and Ultra Low Emission Zones being - or already - implemented impact pre-Euro 4 emissions petrol and pre-Euro 6 emission diesel cars. It's worth using the ULEZ checker online (or via your car's V5/V5C logbook at the bottom of Page 2 in the section entitled 'Exhaust Emissions') to see which category your models falls into, though it roughly will be designated by when it was first registered, as listed below: Euro 1 - from 31 December 1992 Euro 2 - from 1 January 1997 Euro 3 - from 1 January 2001 Euro 4 - from 1 January 2006 (common minimum standard for petrol cars) Euro 5 - from 1 January 2011 Euro 6 - from 1 September 2015 (common minimum standard for diesel cars Advertisement Based on these estimations, the ULEZ will bring in some £1,987,500 every day for the Greater London Authority. That's almost £14million a week, or £723million a year. However, the AA believes more than 300,000 people in the London area will be affected — many on lower incomes who will struggle to afford to trade up to a cleaner and more expensive car. AA president Edmund King said: 'We all want cleaner air but the AA calculates that the London ULEZ on Monday will hit three times more car owners than the Mayor is letting on. 'The vast majority of those are low-income London residents with the least ability to afford a replacement vehicle. 'In effect, they are being priced off the road and being denied the mobility that is often critical for getting to work, shopping with a large family and having flexibility in emergencies, such as rushing a child to A&E.' Those who have returned to offices in the capital on a hybrid working basis of just two days a week would incur £1,125 in charges per year if their vehicle is non-compliant, while a driver who enters the ULEZ five days a week for work would have to pay up to £2,800 per annum A report commissioned by City Hall predicts that the ULEZ expansion could see almost 300,000 fewer people developing chronic diseases, such as asthma and type-2 diabetes, than otherwise expected by 2050. A scrappage scheme has been offered to 'low income' drivers who claim at least one form of benefit as an 'incentive' to ditch an older car and replace it with a ULEZ-compliant model. However, the £2,000 offer will barely make the latest greener vehicles accessible to the most hard-up Londoners who rely on their cars for commuting, the school run and everyday errands. Funding for the grant was almost entirely used up before the extension in October. A spokesperson told us the scheme has helped improve ULEZ compliance, with 80 per cent of all cars owned by people living within the soon-to-be-expanded zone's borders now meeting the emissions standards. Bath's Clean Air Zone is designed to reduce air pollution in the centre of the city, though only by predominantly targeting buses and HGVs Bath is the first city in England to introduce a Clean Air Zone outside of London - though it currently doesn't impact car drivers Different types of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) explained - and what they mean for the car-driving public CAZ A - Charges for drivers of buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles CAZ B - Charges for drivers of heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles CAZ C - Charges for drivers of light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles CAZ D - Charges for drivers of cars, light goods vehicles, heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles Advertisement BATH - Introduced What is it: The first emissions tax introduced outside of London - but does not charge car drivers When is it going to be introduced: Enforced from 15 March 2021 Emission tax type: CAZ C Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs and LGVs Cost to car drivers: Zero The first CAZ in England outside of London launched on 15 March 2021 and demand the highest daily payments from drivers of buses and lorries that enter the centre of Bath - but private cars and motorbikes are exempt from the scheme, for now. Bath and North East Somerset Council said the move could cut its air pollution to below legal levels by the end of 2021. Drivers of high-emission commercial vans are forced to pay a £9 fee and HGVs and buses £100. Private hire vehicles and taxis also have to pay £9 per day. ANPR cameras are installed on all roads leading into the zone, and vehicle number plates will be checked against a DVLA database to make sure the area is enforced. Motorists with non-compliant, chargeable vehicles – including those from outside the UK – must declare and pay for their journey online or they will receive a penalty charge notice. There are currently no plans for passenger cars and vans to face the daily charge. Birmingham is the first Clean Air Zone to impact car owners on Britain: All users of pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel cars have since June 2021 faced a daily charge of £8 to drive within the limits of the A4540 Middleway Ring Road in the West Midlands city BIRMINGHAM - Introduced What is it: Daily charge for drivers of older petrol and diesel cars to enter the limits of the city ring road When is it going to be introduced: Enforced from 1 June 2021 Emission tax type: CAZ D Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs LGVs and car drivers Cost to car drivers: £8 daily charge if a diesel car isn't Euro 6 or petrol isn't at least Euro 4 Birmingham's CAZ D is Britain's first pollution-related tax on drivers of passenger cars outside the capital. The zone's border is Birmingham's ring road, essentially meaning drivers of non-compliant motors will be stung each time they enter the city centre. All drivers of pre-Euro 4 petrol and pre-Euro 6 diesel cars will face a daily charge of £8 to drive within the limits of the A4540 Middleway Ring Road. It was initially due to have come into force overnight on Tuesday 1 June 2021 but Birmingham City Council announced later that morning that it would 'soft launch' the scheme, with charging delayed for a fortnight. This was reportedly due to the lack of local understanding and knowledge of the zone being introduced, which resulted in floods of complaints from motorists driving into the West Midlands city on the first day of operation. Enforcement of charges began on 14 June 2021, with one city councillor admitting: 'We understand that not everybody in the city, despite all our extensive conversations, is aware of this particular project.' The council-backed levy is expected to affect around a quarter of all cars on the city's roads, according to the AA. The Birmingham CAZ is enforced 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It means a driver who enters the zone at 11pm and leaves after midnight will have to pay the charge twice The daily fee should be paid online and there is also a government-funded Clean Air Zone team you can call on 0300 029 8888 for assistance. There is an allocated 13-day payment window for the scheme, so you can either pay six days before the day you use your non-compliant vehicle in the CAZ, on the same day you enter the zone, or up to six days after (up to 11.59 hours on the sixth day) you drove into the restriction. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and be policed by ANPR cameras. It means a driver who enters the zone at 11pm and leaves after midnight will have to pay the charge twice. Those with ineligible vehicles who fail to stump up the daily amount will be slapped with a fine of £120 (reduced to £60 if paid within a fortnight). Read the reaction from drivers in Birmingham on the first day of the CAZ was introduced in the summer. Portsmouth's plans for a clean air zone cover a 3km-squared area, mostly to tackle emissions from traffic coming through the city to reach its ports PORTSMOUTH - November 29 2021 What is it: Clean Air Zone to sting incoming vehicles but not car drivers When is it going to be introduced: 29 November 2021 Emission tax type: CAZ B Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs and HGVs Cost to car drivers: Zero The charging CAZ in Portsmouth is approximately three kilometres square and will tackle incoming traffic. Private cars, motorcycles and vans will not be charged, though older polluting HGVs, buses and coaches will pay £50 per day to travel through the zone - and non-compliant taxis and private hire vehicles will pay £10 per day. Portsmouth City Council has confirmed that it has received £6.6million in funding from the government to setup the zone. Some of those funds have been used between April and September 2021 to install ANPR cameras at 39 locations on roads within the CAZ, allowing for the scheme to be enforced from 29 November. A portion of the money will also be used to add public electric vehicle charge points around the city. BRADFORD - Due January 2022 What is it: Clean Air Zone that does not charge car drivers When is it going to be introduced: 5 January 2022 Emission tax type: CAZ C Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs and LGVs Cost to car drivers: Zero This is the Clean Air Zone boundary planned for Bradford While neighbouring Leeds (and Leicester) have scrapped their plans to introduce clean air zones for now - mainly due to the fall in air pollution levels and traffic dropped during the pandemic - Bradford still intends to go ahead with its own version from early next year. The proposed Bradford Clean Air Zone would cover the city centre, Canal Road corridor, Shipley and Saltaire where pollution is highest. However, it won't sting passenger car drivers or motorcyclists. Instead, the zone will only charge HGVs, LGVs, buses, coaches and private hire vehicles, with daily rate being as high as £50 for non-compliant vehicles. There will be a 'comprehensive programme' of grants and exemptions to help local businesses get ready for the CAZ and to help upgrade some non-compliant vehicles, says the local council. While car drivers will avoid charges, Bradford Council intends to launch a 'No Idling' campaign to cut down on air pollution in the district. It would target motorists who keep their engine running, and keep spewing out fumes from their vehicles, while parked. OXFORD - Due February 2022 What is it: First Zero Emission Zone to be piloted that charges all but electric vehicles to enter eight city centre streets When is it going to be introduced: Pilot scheme due to go live in February 2022 Emission tax type: ZEZ Vehicles charged: All drivers of vehicles with petrol, diesel or hybrid vehicles Cost to car drivers: £2 - £10 daily charge Oxford City Council and Oxfordshire County Council are set to introduce Britain's first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) 'pilot scheme' in the city centre next year. The plans have been approved for the zone to cover eight streets only: Bonn Square; Queen Street; Cornmarket; part of Market Street; Ship Street; St Michael's Street; New Inn Hall Street; and Shoe Lane. These are the seven streets where the Oxford ZEZ will be first piloted under plans due to go lives in February Vehicles used in the zone would be subject to charges, depending on their emissions. Zero-emission vehicles will escape any fee, while drivers of ultra-low emission hybrid cars (producing less than 75g/km CO2) will be charged £2 per fay from February 2022, rising to £4 daily from 2025. Drivers of petrol cars meeting at least Euro 4 standards and the latest Euro 6 diesels will pay £4 per day from next year, rising to £8 per day from 2025, while any motors older than that will have to fork out £10 daily when it's introduced next year - and a massive £20 a day from 2025, under the current plans. The charging zone isn't 24-hour operational, running between 7am and 7pm, and there are intended discounts and exemptions for some road users, including disabled motorists, residents and businesses operating from inside the zone. Next year's pilot will allow the councils to 'test how the scheme will work before expanding it to a wider area', those managing the ZEZ say. ABERDEEN, DUNDEE, EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW - Due Spring 2022 What is it: Low Emission Zones banning older petrol and diesel vehicles When is it going to be introduced: Spring 2022 but not enforced until 2024 Emission tax type: LEZ Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs LGVs and car drivers Cost to car drivers: Penalty Charge Notice of £60 (reduced by 50% if paid within 2 weeks) for non-compliant cars The four biggest Scottish cities - Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow - are currently subject to plans being drawn up for Low Emission Zones (LEZ), with the intention to go live next year. However, enforcement of the zones will not begin until 2024, under existing plans to encourage motorists and businesses to prepare and replace their older vehicles. A LEZ Leadership Group is currently ironing out regulatory steps required for the Scottish Government and each local authority to introduce zones to restrict the use of older, polluting vehicles. Sign designating the boundary of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone (LEZ) were erected in 2019, though it is unlikely to go live until the middle of 2022 and enforcement not beginning until 2024 to allow motorists and businesses to prepare Once legislation is in place, local councils will be given the freedom to adapt their own versions of a LEZ in order to meeting their air pollution targets. Each LEZ is likely to be in the city centre. It could see a ban on vehicles that fail to meet the minimum required emission standards - likely to be Euro 6 for diesel cars and Euro 4 for petrols. The restriction will also impact diesel-powered Euro VI HGVs and buses. These LEZs will differ to the aforementioned zones as non-compliant vehicles will be banned entirely, rather than charged a fee. Instead of being able to pay a non-compliance charge, the LEZ will see owners of ineligible motors issued with a Penalty Charge Notice. The initial penalty charge for all non-compliant vehicles is set at £60, reduced by 50 per cent if it is paid within a fortnight. A surcharge is also proposed whereby the penalty amount doubles with each subsequent breach of the rules detected in the same LEZ. The penalty charges are capped at £480 for cars and light goods vehicles and £960 for buses and HGVs. After 90 days of last breaching the rules, the surcharge rate will be reset. The Scottish LEZs will operate continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round, and be enforced by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras linked to a national vehicle licencing database. Some non-compliant vehicles will be allowed to use the zones without being issued a PCN. These include: police vehicles; ambulance and emergency vehicles; Scottish Fire and Rescue; Her Majesty's Coastguard; National Crime Agency; Military vehicles; Vehicles for disabled persons (including blue badge holders); Showman's vehicles. 'Historic vehicles' will also be exempt - likely classic cars over 40 years of age. A joint CAZ C for Greater Manchester would cover all or parts of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan and the cities of Manchester and Salford to cut air pollution in those areas MANCHESTER - Due May 30 2022 What is it: Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan When is it going to be introduced: 30 May 2022 Emission tax type: CAZ C Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs and LGVs Cost to car drivers: Zero As part of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan, a joint charging clean air zone has been proposed to cover all or parts of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan and the cities of Manchester and Salford to cover most of the whole of Greater Manchester. The zone would not affect private cars. It's set to be introduced on 30 May 2022, with city officials saying it will need to be in place in order for the area to meet air pollution reduction targets by 2024. In order to help encourage commercial drivers to switch to cleaner vehicles before the zone comes into force, local leaders are asking for a multi-million-pound package - including £8million for businesses impacted by the economic impacts of the daily charges - to support those affected. This is the proposed boundary for a clean air zone covering Newcastle's city centre NEWCASTLE - Due July 2022 What is it: Clean Air Zone in Newcastle city centre but also Gateshead and North Tyneside - but not charge car drivers When is it going to be introduced: July 2022 Emission tax type: CAZ C Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs and LGVs Cost to motorists with non-compliant cars: Zero A legal case regarding the installation of ANPR cameras needed for a CAZ to function prevented Newcastle from introducing its zone in January 2021, with delays pushing back plans for the scheme to go live to later this year. This has again been delayed, with the proposed start date now July 2022. Proposals are for a scheme where older buses, coaches, and lorries would face £50 daily tolls while vans and taxis that don't meet the emissions standard required would be charged £12.50 each time they enter the zone's boundaries. Private cars will be exempt from the charge. Bristol will be the second city after Birmingham to begin charging drivers of older cars to enter a clean air zone BRISTOL - Due summer 2022 What is it: Clean Air Zone charging drivers of older passenger cars who travel in the zone When is it going to be introduced: Summer 2022 Emission tax type: CAZ D Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs LGVs and car drivers Cost to car drivers: £9 daily charge if a diesel car isn't Euro 6 or petrol isn't at least Euro 4 Motorists using any of the roads marked in the blue area of this map of Bristol driving a CAZ non-compliant passenger car will be charged £9 a day Bristol's Clean Air Zone follows a similar pattern to other big cities: a predefined zone limit in the city centre; a 24-hour charging period that's operational seven days a week, 365 days a year; and only the latest and cleanest passenger cars are exempt from the charge. No vehicles are banned from entering Bristol's Clean Air Zone, but drivers of diesels cars failing to meet Euro 6 standards and petrols not adhering to at least Euro 4 will have to pay £9 each time they enter the boundaries. Bristol City Council estimates that over 71 per cent of vehicles travelling in and out of the zone on a daily basis are compliant with the restrictions. Drivers who live within the limits of the CAZ will have to pay up each time they make a journey in their non-compliant vehicle. There'll be exemptions only for those who earn less than £24,000 a year, and no more than £12.45 per hour - but they will only be able to apply for one year's exemption. Hospital visitors will also escape the charge. Other larger vehicle - including HGVs, buses and coaches - will be charged £100 for each day they enter the zone. If a vehicle has to travel into the CAZ because of an official diversion from a road outside the zone, for example the M5, the vehicle will not be charged, the council says. Following a series of delays in submitting its plans to central government, Bristol City Council was ordered to have its system for charging polluting vehicles in place by October 29 this year. However, the council announced on 2 July 2021 that the CAZ will not launch until the summer of 2022 - some nine months later than originally planned. Sheffield City Council is shortly expected to announce plans for a CAZ C zone for 'late 2022', with it covering the inner ring road and the city centre, including Park Square and the A61/Parkway junction SHEFFIELD - Due late 2022 What is it: An inner-city Clean Air Zone targeted at the dirties vehicles - but not cars When is it going to be introduced: Proposed for late 2022 Emission tax type: CAZ C Vehicles charged: Buses, coaches, taxis, PHVs, HGVs and LGVs Cost to car drivers: Zero Sheffield City Council had originally proposed a Clean Air Zone for the city centre in 2018, with plans for it to be introduced and enforced from 2020. However, the impact of Covid-19 on traffic levels saw vehicle use drop and decision makers delay the plans. The city council is shortly expected to announce plans for it come in 'late 2022', with the zone covering the inner ring road and the city centre, including Park Square and the A61/Parkway junction. The intention is for a CAZ C zone, which means taxis and LGVs that do not meet the emission standards required will be charged £10 a day and coaches, buses and HGVs will be charged £50 to drive within the zone. Private cars will not pay because they only contribute to 50 per cent of the inner city pollution despite making up 80 per cent of the traffic, the council said. LIVERPOOL - Due 2022/2023 What is it: A proposed Clean Air Zone with not clear plans yet in place When is it going to be introduced: Proposed for financial year 2022-23 Emission tax type: CAZ (unconfirmed class) Vehicles charged: Unconfirmed Cost to car drivers: Unconfirmed Currently, Liverpool Council is preparing to launch a public consultation on the creation of a Clean Air Zone to improve air quality in the city - and in its latest report claims it is 'highly likely' it will be a charging zone for vehicles entering the city centre that fail to meet emissions standards - likely Euro 6 for diesel and Euro 4 for petrol, as is the case for most inner-city pollution taxes on motorists. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility