Clean air zone fees used for school safety schemes

Money raised by the CAZ must be used on running costs and air quality projects

More than £200,000 raised by charges to enter Sheffield's Clean Air Zone (CAZ) will be used to improve road safety around five schools.

The money will be spent on temporarily closing roads outside Broomhill Infants, Meynell, Fox Hill and Rivelin primary schools and Hinde House Secondary at pick-up and drop-off times.

Sheffield City Council introduced the CAZ in February 2023 due to high levels of pollution. Commercial vehicles and taxis that do not meet emission standards must pay to enter the city centre.

Income generated by the scheme, which reached £7.2m in the first year, can only be used on its running costs and on air quality improvement projects.

A report to the council's finance committee said schemes to close roads outside schools during drop-off and pick-up times, called The School Streets programme, were becoming "increasingly popular across the UK".

It said: "They are a way to address key issues such as air pollution, traffic congestion and inconsiderate parking at the school gate, whilst also promoting active travel and healthy lifestyles."

Other Sheffield schools, including Mundella Primary and Hunter's Bar Infants, have already signed up to the project.

Under the scheme, the roads are usually shut for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon, with barriers and signs in place, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Residents can apply for permits to give them access to the road during closures.

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