From March 14, 2025, Bath’s Liberal Democrat-run council will start charging emergency service vehicles to enter the city’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ). This means fire engines, ambulances, and police cars that don’t meet strict emissions rules will have to pay a daily tax. Just to save lives.
The Bath Clean Air Zone was introduced in 2021, with emergency services given a four-year exemption from charges. That exemption is now being scrapped, despite the fire service warning that more than half of their fleet still doesn’t meet the requirements and won’t be fully compliant until 2031.
Instead of investing in frontline services, the Liberal Democrats are forcing emergency responders to pay to do their job. Meanwhile, private cars—no matter how polluting—are completely exempt from the charges.
This means that:
✅ Fire engines responding to emergencies will have to pay if they aren’t compliant.
✅ Ambulances transporting critically ill patients will face extra costs.
✅ Police vehicles keeping our communities safe will be hit by charges.
At a time when policing, NHS ambulances, and fire services need more support than ever, Bath’s Liberal Democrat council is taking money away from emergency services instead of helping them.
Is This What We Want in Devon?
Liberal Democrats have set a dangerous precedent. If they can tax emergency services there, what’s stopping them from doing it elsewhere?
Devon’s emergency responders shouldn’t have to pay to protect us. We need policies that support frontline workers—not punish them.
Vote Conservative on the 1st of May.
