Since January 1, the most polluting cars no longer have a place in the hypercentre of Nice. In this new Low Emission Zone (ZFE), which includes the Promenade des Anglais, only vehicles equipped with a Crit’Air sticker 1, 2, 3 or even 4 for private individuals are authorized. Under penalty of 68 euros fine. At least, in theory. Because in practice, “there will be no control” of the municipal police, said the deputy mayor Gaël Nofri, this Wednesday morning at the microphone of France Bleu azur.
“We have no desire for control as long as the government does not correlate with what it asks of us”, supported the elected traffic representative, recalling that the town hall demanded “the abolition of the toll of Saint Isidore”. According to him, the benefits in terms of pollution would be greater than those obtained by this ZFE, imposed progressively, except exemption, with all the agglomerations of more than 150.000 inhabitants.
For the benefit of “one in four Nice people”
In November, the mayor of Nice had already banged his fist on the table on this subject, citing the results of a study by Atmosud. According to the organization’s conclusions, the abolition of this toll would lead to a “degradation [de la qualité de l’air] for 16,000 inhabitants close to the motorway and its accesses” but would lead to an “improvement in the city center for 80,000 inhabitants”. “This represents one in four Nice people”, pleaded Christian Estrosi.
Asked by 20 minutes, the concessionaire Vinci Autoroutes indicated that “the abolition of a motorway toll is a decision that is the responsibility of the State”. Asked then, the Ministry of Ecological Transition did not respond.