City’s Clean Air Zone set to launch in September

Bradford city’s Clean Air Zone, which the council has been directed to implement by the government will come into force from 26 September as it looks to tackle a “significant source of poor air quality and health”.

The scheme which will see the worst polluting lorries, vans and taxis charged to enter the city centre had originally bee due to commence in spring. The fees range from £50 for HGVs and buses which do not meet the standard emission standards. while vans and minibuses will be charged at £9 and taxis £7.

The announcement comes as towns and cities across the UK have been encouraged by central government to introduce Clean Air Zones following an order in 2015 by the Supreme Court for ministers to take immediate action to cut air pollution.

A number of suggested Clean Air Zones were reviewed in the wake of the pandemic, with a joint review by Leeds City Council and central government concluding that the city no longer required a zone as a result of businesses switching to cleaner vehicles faster than expected.

Bradford Council stated that it had suggested alternatives to implementing a Clean Air Zone but had been instructed “that a charging Clean Air Zone is the only way that the district can comply with the direction in the shortest possible timeframe”.

When the plans were originally announced for spring this year, Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s executive member for Healthy People and Places said: “The Government has directed that Bradford district should have a Clean Air Zone and subsequently the Council has administered millions of pounds worth of grants to businesses to support them with the transition.

“The Council is providing the most extensive exemptions programme of any CAZ authority, with businesses and residents allowed to exempt certain vehicles.

“This is possible because around 85% of commercial vehicles that are expected to enter the CAZ will be from outside the District.”