Plans to improve air quality and reduce pollution in and around Sheffield’s city centre from next spring will see the most polluting large goods vehicles, vans, buses, and taxis charged for entering the inner ring road – but private cars and motorbikes will be exempt.
Financial support will be available to support people affected by the Clean Air Zone to upgrade to cleaner vehicles, with further details on the grants funding to be made available in the coming months.
Cllr Terry Fox, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said: “We are clear that we need to act now to create a cleaner and healthier environment for everyone in Sheffield, but it is not something that the council can do on its own. This will be a big change for a lot of people, and the cost-of-living-crisis we are currently facing is putting a financial strain on us all. That is why as we take steps to put the Clean Air Zone into motion, we are also calling on Government to go further and increase the financial support available to support people to switch to a cleaner or electric vehicle.
“We recognise that small businesses need the most support in upgrading and after listening to what people have to say we have increased our proposed funding as much as we can, but there is still time for Government to provide more help to those who might already be struggling.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our plans for developing the city centre and the Clean Air Zone is an important part of our plans towards our goal of achieving net zero carbon by 2030. By reducing air pollution, maximising our green spaces, and making decisions that benefit our environment, we will continue to make Sheffield a great place to live for generations to come.”
