Sheffield City Council has allocated £1 million from the city’s Clean Air Zone revenues to fund a series of initiatives aimed at improving air quality, with the overwhelming majority of the money targeted at protecting children from the harmful effects of pollution.
More than £900,000 of the total will support schemes designed to reduce young people’s exposure to air pollution and encourage greener travel habits from an early age.
A significant portion of the funding will expand cycle training through Bikeability North, giving over 400 children the chance to build confidence and skills on two wheels. Ten new cycle storage facilities are also being installed at schools, while the Modeshift STARS School Engagement Team has been funded for an additional year to work with 70 schools on clean air projects.
Road safety and pollution reduction are being tackled together through new 20mph speed restrictions outside 22 schools. 19 eligible schools will also benefit from School Streets initiatives, which close roads to traffic during drop-off and pick-up times, cutting both danger and emissions at the school gate.
For residents outside the school gates, more than £81,000 has been committed to maintaining 40 cycle storage facilities across the borough for the next decade, giving those who choose sustainable travel a secure place to keep their bikes near their homes.
The council is also offering new drivers a free 90-minute electric vehicle experience, giving them the chance to try an EV before committing to a greener vehicle purchase.
Cllr Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council said: ‘Our children and young people are our future. The impact of poor air quality on their health starts during early pregnancy and long-term exposure can leave their lungs permanently damaged.
‘We want to give them the best possible start, that’s why we have invested over £900,000 into projects to improve air quality around our schools, as well as programmes to educate our young people about how they can make greener choices when they travel around our city.
‘We’re also working to boost their confidence in cycling, through cycling schemes, as well as giving them the voice to promote road safety within their schools.
‘Through the Clean Air Zone, we are already seeing major improvements to pollution levels across the city, and CAZ investment is allowing us to make even more improvements with real impact, but there’s more to be done.
‘We all have a responsibility to make changes to our everyday behaviours to get air quality in Sheffield to a level where it truly needs to be, through this investment, we are working to see the change that will benefit the next generation of Sheffielders.’
Photo: Yan Krukau
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