Bath appoints Shire Leasing to deliver financial assistance for hauliers hit by city’s CAZ

Bath hauliers whose businesses suffer from the introduction of the city’s clean air zone (CAZ) next year will be able to apply to Shire Leasing for financial assistance.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has announced this week that it is taking on Shire Leasing to deliver its financial assistance scheme for local businesses adversely impacted by the city’s CAZ, which is due to be launched on 15 March next year.

The financial assistance scheme, supported by the government’s Clean Air Fund, will provide direct financial aid, in the form of grants and/or interest free finance, to local businesses in Bath that are elgible for the scheme.

Bath will be the first charging CAZ outside of London to launch, followed by Birmingham on J1 June 2021.

Julie Henehan, corporate development director at Shire Leasing, said: “We’re thrilled to be supporting Bath and North East Somerset Council on this pioneering finance initiative.

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“A cleaner, healthier environment benefits both people and the economy, and we’re delighted to be able to deploy our leasing solutions as an enabler for Bath businesses to achieve sustainable improvements in air quality and long-term environmental gains.

“Affordable solutions are particularly needed during these turbulent times, when a lot of businesses have faced difficulty and disruption due to the pandemic and nationwide lockdown.

“Grants and interest-free finance will make it possible for many more Bath businesses to acquire compliant vehicles. There has never been a better opportunity to upgrade a vehicle for the sake of the environment and the bottom line.”

Vehicles that will qualify for an upgrade under the financial assistance scheme include Euro 1 to 5 diesel and Euro 1-3 petrol vehicles, including LGVs, vans and HGVs, as well as buses, coaches and taxis that regularly enter the city centre. Private cars and motorbikes will not be charged and cannot be upgraded through the scheme, unless they are taxis or private hire vehicles.

Shire Leasing has launched a dedicated web page to provide applicants with help and guidance. Applicants can submit their claims for both grant and/or interest free financing on the website and customers will be updated as their application progresses with documentation issued to successful applicants for e-signature.

Further information on financial assistance and eligibility for financial assistance can be found at www.bathnes.gov.uk/BathCAZ