Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone covering the city centre and inner ring road is set to start charging high emission commercial vehicles for driving through the city.
The Class C Clean Air Zone will be going live from Monday 27th February and has sparked some confusion among those living in Sheffield.
The scheme is being implemented to try and combat high levels of Nitrogen dioxide released from commercial vehicles only.
What is a clean air zone?
A Clean air zone is a specific area usually in cities where high levels of pollution have been detected and restrictions are in place to reduce the levels.
Green Party councillor Christine Gilligan Kubo, for Sheffield’s Hillsborough ward defines a clean air zone as: “a government directed policy that Sheffield City Council are legally obliged to comply with to clean the air and reduce pollution in the city centre so vehicles that do not comply will be charged to enter the zone.”
Why does Sheffield need a Clean Air Zone?
A clean air zone is needed in Sheffield in order to combat high levels of pollution in the city centre and inner ring road.
Councillor Christine Gilligan Kubo says: “We have to have the Clean air zone because the government passed a law about clean air and there are areas around the city centre in particular where the air pollution is exceeding the legal limit of 40 parts per million of NO2.
“Clean air is important for all of us and it is estimated that 500 people will die early every year in Sheffield. It is particularly harmful to young kids while their lungs are still developing.”
How will it impact me?
A class C clean air zone is being implemented in Sheffield which according to the Sheffield City Council website which says : “most polluting heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), light goods vehicles (LGVs), vans, buses, coaches and taxis that drive within the inner ring road and city centre and private cars and motorbikes will not be charged.”
Councillor Christine Gilligan Kubo says: “People should not be worried, they should be pleased the council is willing to provide clean air.
“The aim is to encourage drivers to upgrade their vehicles, we are not as a city requiring everyone to get electric vehicles we asked to put in lower standards than those being below Euro 6 diesel and Euro 4 petrol.“
How will people be charged?
If your vehicle is not compliant every time you enter the Clean Air Zone will be liable to pay a charge.
It is £10 for entry with a non-compliant smaller vehicle but there is a £50 charge for bigger vehicles and both have to be paid on the GOV website.
Cameras will also be used to track the vehicles entering the Clean Air Zone.
Councillor Christine Gilligan Kubo says: “There will be automatic number plate recognition cameras which are linked to the national database so they will automatically identify any vehicle which is to be charged.”