Sheffield\u2019s new clean air zone has received backlash among businesses in the city. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The scheme will be in place from Monday 27th February and will charge the most polluting vehicles driving in the city centre to try and reduce congestion, in line with Sheffield\u2019s reputation as one of the greenest cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wayne Sampson, 62, relies on roads within the clean air zone whilst driving between jobs for his carpet company, Fabric Care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Sampson said: \u201cI always try to avoid that area anyway, but some days, such as today, I’ll have to use the ring road. Whereas, come next month I won\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I\u2019ll have to go probably 3 or 4 miles further to get to the same job. It\u2019ll cost me more time. In doing more time I\u2019ll emit more fumes.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The zone includes key entry points to the city such as Sheffield Parkway and Derek Dooley Way on the city’s ring road. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wayne Sampson said: \u201cIf it was within the ring road, I could sort of understand it. But to kill the ring road off to people such as me, it\u2019ll create more fumes and congestion in other areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo cut that road off to people that are struggling to make a living, it\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Backlash against the zone has come in the form of planned protests within the Facebook page \u2018Campaign against chargeable clean air zone Sheffield\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taxis, buses, vans and coaches that drive in the inner city and within the ring road are among the vehicles that could be charged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Sampson said: \u201cI\u2019ve never been to a demonstration in my life, but I\u2019m thinking about it. I probably will at some point. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat I see of this is just the thin end of the wedge, it\u2019s ridiculous, it\u2019s causing more fumes than it\u2019s stopping.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Polluting vans, LGVs and taxis will be expected to pay \u00a310 per day they enter the <\/p>\n\n\n\n
zone and bigger coaches, buses and lorries will be charged \u00a350. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Care worker Tom Barber, 39, said: \u201cIf you\u2019re choosing to drive a car putting out really high pollution levels when you could be driving something more eco-friendly then you should be charged for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019d be down for a total ban on cars in the city centre, but they\u2019d have to put a decent park and ride scheme in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Payments have to be processed within 7 days in order to avoid additional charges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sheffield\u2019s new clean air zone has received backlash among businesses in the city. The scheme will be in place from Monday 27th February and will charge the most polluting vehicles driving in the city centre to try and reduce congestion, in line with Sheffield\u2019s reputation as one of the greenest cities. Wayne Sampson, 62, relies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":46697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[41,21],"tags":[812,38],"class_list":["post-46695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","category-news","tag-cleanair","tag-sheffield"],"yoast_head":"\n