Who knew you had to pay to drive in Birmingham?????

[NichyNoo]

Went to Birmingham recently for a weekend mini break. Received a penalty notice in the post today as apparently Birmingham is a clean air zone and you’re supposed to know this and pay £8 per day to drive in the city. I’m guessing another fine is in the post for the Sunday when we drove out of Birmingham. We didn’t see this advertised anywhere so no idea how we were supposed to know - two fines of £120 I know about the london congestion charge but do any other cities have this charge to drive so we don’t get caught out again?

[quote NeonJellyBaby]@DismantledKing it really isn’t nicer than Manchester, or anywhere for that matter. Easily the worst and most unattractive big city in the U.K. Never been to Coventry so can’t comment on that.[/quote]
Yeah? You’re wrong.

It’s literally no different from any other city I’ve been in in terms of how much is built up and how much green space there is (birmingham had a surprising amount imho). Did you end up going around and around an industrial estate or something? Yes Birmingham has lots of parks, great canal system, sporting venues, historic buildings. Loads to do.

@ancientgran Is he entitled to higher rate mobility PIP? This is only a small percentage of disabled people. It should be all blue badge holders. This is then most of those with mobility issues that might preclude using public transport.

@NichyNoo

I’ve visited Birmingham since the clean air policy began. It’s very, very well sign posted!

It seems the real issue is your lack of ability to read road signs, it’s not the charges. You missed seeing the signs, everyone else on this thread is saying the same. The signage is there. The news was big.

Yabu.

@ancientgran

It’s literally no different from any other city I’ve been in in terms of how much is built up and how much green space there is (birmingham had a surprising amount imho). Did you end up going around and around an industrial estate or something? Yes Birmingham has lots of parks, great canal system, sporting venues, historic buildings. Loads to do.

Yep. People often resort to lazy stereotypes just because they saw it on Take Me High once, or saw the 60’s Bull Ring before it was flattened.

[quote Moonme]@ancientgran Is he entitled to higher rate mobility PIP? This is only a small percentage of disabled people. It should be all blue badge holders. This is then most of those with mobility issues that might preclude using public transport.[/quote]
He has DLA but can't remember if it is higher rate. To be honest with you he can still use public transport, we were on a train yesterday in the disabled section, nice big space for electric wheelchair/scooter.

@Sparklingbrook

The M6 is very well lit up. Even if the signs are illuminated. You’d be able to read them like all other normal signs on the motorway.

[quote Moonme]@DismantledKing great... I won’t drive to a place I frequently have work at because I’m poorer than some one who can afford a newer model.[/quote]
You could always drive towards Birmingham. Then train it in. Your work should pick up expenses.

I don’t have a new car. But my car is free from charges. If it’s not a diesel. You’ll probably be good to go.

There's a similar thing near me, a toll bridge with at least 15 notices advising that there's a toll ahead which you need to pay for online, and a list of charges. There's still regular compo face pics in the local rag of people moaning because they've been fined for being unobservant. One even admitted that she didn't even know she'd gone across a bridge 🤦🏼‍♀️

@DismantledKing

Not quite sure how telling patronising people to p off = a bellend but each to their own
🤨🤨

Shame you got stung. This really annoys me actually as I have a diesel car which would be chargeable however the petrol version is not however the emissions are higher from the petrol one! The petrol would be a large tax bill and the diesel isn't based on the same emissions i.e diesel less emissions so less tax 🤷. So be assured it isn't just big hulking guzzlers being caught out. Just pushes traffic out to us instead 😔

Son got this, the PCN was £60, if not paid within a cwertain time was then £120, however as a good will thing if he paid with 7 days it was £8. Check your PCN !

@NeonJellyBaby

Surely it can’t just be me who wonders why anyone would want to go on a mini break to Birmingham? It’s the most god awful, depressing concrete shit hole with absolutely no redeeming features.

I’ve had some great weekends in Birmingham, there are some really nice areas. Lots of amazing restaurants and bars. Granted there’s some rougher places but that’s no different to any other huge city.

@Trytowin20

Shame you got stung. This really annoys me actually as I have a diesel car which would be chargeable however the petrol version is not however the emissions are higher from the petrol one! The petrol would be a large tax bill and the diesel isn't based on the same emissions i.e diesel less emissions so less tax 🤷. So be assured it isn't just big hulking guzzlers being caught out. Just pushes traffic out to us instead 😔

It’s really not that confusing. There are three problems with cars. A) CO2 emissions which want the planet and are just as bad no matter where in the UK you live. These are dealt with by a national banded road tax system B) congestion which is more of a problem in cities and is dealt with in a pay to drive basis C) particulate pollution especially from diesel vehicles which causes huge health problems in urban areas. This is dealt with by pay to drive taxes targeted at the vehicles which emit the most particulates.

Your diesel scores well on measure A which is why its national tax is lower, but badly on C which is why you’re penalised for driving it in built up areas.

London is more confusing because it originally tried to deal with both B and C using the same tax and is now splitting them out.

I live fairly near to Birmingham . It only applies within the inner ring road (not the suburbs). I don't know how it works, presumably number plate recognition like some car parks . It doesn't apply to a lot of cars though , there's a website where you can check out whether your car is exempt. There have certainly been signs up about it coming in for the last few years but agree I don't know how you would be expected to know about it if you didn't visit there regularly.

There’s loads of signs everywhere, and you can easily take a detour to avoid the congestion charges. Literally there are signs on every corner alerting you that you’re entering a congestion charge zone.

Some signs are illuminated . They are type which can have different messages lit up in lights eg about delays.

[quote Nocutenamesleft]@Sparklingbrook

The M6 is very well lit up. Even if the signs are illuminated. You’d be able to read them like all other normal signs on the motorway.[/quote]
I haven't been on the M6 at night for years. M6 in the day is bad enough, good to hear it has lighting though.

Surely it can’t just be me who wonders why anyone would want to go on a mini break to Birmingham? It’s the most god awful, depressing concrete shit hole with absolutely no redeeming features

@NeonJellyBaby

Outside of Covid, Birmingham has
More green spaces than any other European city.
The royal ballet as well as world class theatres.
More Michelin star restaurants than anywhere else in the uk other than London.
China town for great food, but also Thai, Korean, Polish, French, Mexican, Brazilian etc
Ample, reasonable priced car parking.
Canal side dining and Boat rides.
The sea life centre and the Lego discovery centre.
Exhibition centres.
Art galleries, museums. Free!
A thriving nightlife.
A gay village.
Birmingham pride parade.
Bars, including secret bars and speakeasies.
World class shopping at the likes of Harvey Nicks, Selfridges a couple of Hamleys close by and the worlds largest Primark.

So I guess you’ve either never visited or last visited in the 1970’s.

I love visiting Birmingham. Got myself a mini break booked for October, going to see a show.

I think I don't like going to Birmingham any more because it doesn't look like it did in the 80s and I don't want to tarnish my memories of my brilliant teenage years. It just seems so much busier too, traffic and people.
I went to the NIA and drove in about 2 years ago and it wasn't a fun journey by any means. Getting out of the car park took about 2 hours as well.
Now I am an hour away there's other, nearer places that offer what Birmingham does I guess.
But I can see why people would go for a City break if they weren't local and enjoy it.

Anybody else getting the impression that @DismantledKing works for Birmingham Council and was responsible for:

1. Ensuring there was plenty of media coverage, locally and nationally
2. The visibility, illumination and positioning of the signage

I work outside of the clean air charge but occasionally have to travel to another of our offices just outside the opposite side of the zone. The direct route is through the tunnels (for those who know Birmingham). Work won't refund the charge so I have to go round residential areas to avoid the charge - not convinced that improves the overall air quality more traffic going stop start through residential area rather than going through the direct route!

Those signs aren't massively helpful, are they? I know they don't want them to be wordy but they say feck all!

@TossieFleacake

Anybody else getting the impression that *@DismantledKing* works for Birmingham Council and was responsible for:

1. Ensuring there was plenty of media coverage, locally and nationally
2. The visibility, illumination and positioning of the signage

👏🏻👏🏻😂😂

Even something like 'Driving in this zone may incur extra charges, please check online to avoid a fine' would be more helpful and focus the eye a bit more. Just 'Clean air zone' and 'charges apply' doesn't really say much IMO. It's not very targeted. Like sign white noise.

I don't know, I think they could have made it clearer for the myriad people who do not keep up with the latest goings-on in Birmingham