Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone (CAZ) came into force on Monday, more than five years after the Government legally directed the city council to implement the measure to tackle illegal levels of toxic air pollution.
The Sheffield CAZ is what is a Class C chargeable zone - charges will apply round the clock to heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis entering the CAZ boundary but private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.
The charges are:
- £50 per day for larger vehicles – such as buses, coaches and HGVs
- £10 per day for smaller vehicles – such as taxis and LGVs
- larger campervans and motorhomes can apply for a discounted rate, reducing the charge amount to £10
According to the council’s own announcement, it was directed by the Government in 2017 to implement the CAZ to reduce the dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the city. Since then, readings have regularly shown that Sheffield exceeds the legal NO2 limits in a number of places.
Cllr Mazher Iqbal, co-chair of the council’s Transport Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: ‘At the heart of the Clean Air Zone there is a critical mission – to reduce exposure to N02 emissions for everyone and limit the devastating effects it can have. Currently, air pollution contributes to one in 20 deaths a year in Sheffield and action must be taken.
‘As a city which prides itself on its outdoor and green spaces it is crucial we implement necessary measures to ensure it is a safe place for all. Everyone deserves clean air.’
He added that the council is aware that the CAZ may impact some financially, and that it had worked hard ‘to secure the best financial package we could from Government for those who need support’.
Exemptions do apply across all CAZs in the country as set by the Government. They are automatically applied so all you need to do is check if your vehicle will be nationally exempt. You can view a list of these at GOV.UK: Clean air zones.
This article was originally published by Transport Network.
