Bradford receives £4m for Clean Air Zone prep

Bradford Council has received £4m from government to help them prepare for a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in the city.

In October 2018, Bradford was one of 28 councils instructed by the government to develop a plan which assesses a range of interventions to reduce pollution ‘in the shortest possible time.’

The current preferred choice is the introduction of a Class C CAZ that will require a daily charge for non-compliant vehicles such as buses, coaches, taxis and heavy goods vehicles. 

The charge will not include private cars. 

The CAZ will be focused around the city centre, Outer Ring Road, Shipley and Saltaire, where pollution is highest. 

Air pollution is linked to around 200 preventable deaths each year in Bradford and causes ill-health in many other residents in the district – particularly those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.

A public consultation on the plans is currently underway for residents and businesses runs until 26 March.

The £4m will be used to help ‘refine and implement’ the proposals in line with the findings of the consultation.

It will also help create the systems which will deliver financial support for locally affected businesses and organisations to help them upgrade their vehicles. 

Cllr Sarah Ferriby, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Healthy People and Places, said: ‘We have worked hard to put forward a strong business case to government on why we need to tackle air pollution in the district and how it will make a real impact on the health of people living, working and visiting the district.

‘This is a vital step forward and shows the Government has faith in our plans. We now need the views of residents and businesses to help shape our plans. We all take action collectively and reduce the impact on air quality where we live.’

Photo Credit – City of Bradford Council