York consults on bus Clean Air Zone

City of York council has asked bus operators, residents and businesses for views on plans to introduce a ‘Clean Air Zone’ within the city, primarily targeting air pollution from buses.

Under the plans, the city council will require any individual bus operating on a public local bus service into the Clean Air Zone five or more times per day to meet the ‘ultra-low emission’ bus standard, Euro VI or lower.

York is introducing zero-emission buses across its Park & Ride network, and is proposing tougher standards for other buses operating in the city. Picture: Richard Walker/ www.imagenorth.net

Plans for the bus Clean Air Zone target an area York’s inner ring road and city centre, where buses are thought to cause around 27% of pollution emissions.

Commenting on the consultation, Cllr Andrew Waller, the council’s deputy leader and executive member for the environment, said: “Targeting buses which most frequently pass through the city centre would have the greatest impact on reducing harmful pollutants by forcing these to be electric or low emission vehicles.

“However, we understand the vital role that the city’s local bus services play in bringing people into York to work, shop or visit so it’s important that the public give their views on these proposed changes through this survey.”

Consultation

The council will consider responses to the consultation, which was launched on Thursday (21 June) and runs until 3 August and a further report will be presented to a meeting of the council’s Executive later in 2018.

In August 2017 the council was awarded £3.3 million from the Department for Transport’s Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme to support the delivery of high capacity, fully electric buses and charging infrastructure for the remainder of York’s Park & Ride routes.

York’s scheme will help deliver an electric Park & Ride network by February 2019. The new electric buses will join the 11 existing one already operating at Poppleton Bar and Monks Cross.

Related Links
York – Clean Air Zone Consultation