An anti-Clean Air Zone group is planning a march in Sheffield in response to the council’s scheme, which imposes charges on commercial vehicles driving through the city.
Tim Wells, 58, a member from the campaign against Clean Air Zone said: “It’s going to desolate Sheffield businesses, crash the city centre, and make it pointless for people to visit. As a council they have a duty to provide a centre for the people of Sheffield, and they’re taking that away from us so we’re fighting back.
“My biggest concern at the moment is that the Clean Air Zone is being done against commercial vehicles to start with, but I think the next thing will be an attack on private cars. We’re being called a ‘far right group’ by the council, because we are claiming that cars are going to be charged next.”
The protest will begin at 12pm in the Peace Gardens this Saturday, followed by a prompt march to the ring road at 1pm.
Sheffield City Council has explained the need for a cleaner and healthier future for the city to be the reasoning behind the Clean Air Zone, saying air pollution contributes to 500 deaths a year in Sheffield.
The Sheffield Clean Air Zone covers the inner ring road and city centre, and affects taxis, light goods vehicles such as vans, buses and coaches that all do not meet the Euro 6 diesel or Euro 4 petrol standards.
Private cars will not be affected.
The charges are £50 per day for larger vehicles and £10 a day for smaller vehicles if they do not meet the standards.
Although transport companies are to lose out on this scheme as well, they understand the need for such a scheme.
Commenting of the impact of the Clean Air Zone, a spokesperson from the National Express said: “We recognise that we play an essential part in reducing emissions and combating climate change, so we continuously invest in the cleanest and most efficient coaches available.
“We are pleased to confirm that our fleet meets Sheffield’s clean air zone’s exemption criteria and the implementation will not affect our services operating in and around Sheffield.”
For further information you can find the campaign on Facebook at ‘Campaign against chargeable Clean Air Zone Sheffield’.