Big response to Sheffield’s CAZ consultation

Almost 12,000 Sheffield residents and businesses have responded a consultation on a potential Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in the city.

In July, Sheffield City Council began the consultation for a class C Clean Air Zone which is planned for 2021.

High polluting taxis, vans, HGVs, buses and coaches would pay a charge to enter the zone within the city’s inner ring road but private cars would not.

Potential charges — which would be set at around £50 a day for buses, coaches and HGVs, £10 a day for taxis and private hire vehicles and £10 a day for vans and LGVs, are likely to apply to vehicles that are older than Euro 6 for diesel (2016) or Euro 4 for petrol (2006).

In total, 11,875 people responded to Sheffield’s CAZ proposals. Over 2,300 responses came from private hire and taxi owners.

By contrast, Leeds’ consultation on its CAZ plans received 8,744 responses and Birmingham’s received 10,389.

The council says there was a ‘late spike’ in consultation responses from local businesses, taxi drivers and members of the public. They say these views will then inform the final clean air plans when they go before full cabinet later this year.

In related news, Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside councils recently watered down plans to implement a CAZ in the region after thousands of people objected in a public consultation.

Cllr Bob Johnson, cabinet member for Transport and Development at Sheffield City Council said: ‘From talking to the people of Sheffield over the last two months, the message is clear — air pollution is a big issue and people want clean air. However we have to ensure that food can still be delivered, that buses still run and children can get on a coach for a school trip.

‘Our focus for next year, if we get the money we’ve asked for from government, will be to help the owners of these vehicles upgrade to the cleanest available before 2021’

An independent local company will write the final report which will be published in the autumn along with the data from the surveys.

Photo Credit – Pixabay