Sheffield: Clean Air Zone income to fund air improvement projects

The clean air zone was introduced in February 2023 and does not affect private cars or motorbikes

Air quality near schools will be improved using £1m raised through Sheffield's Clean Air Zone (CAZ), the city council has said.

A total of £2.3m has been raised through charges and fines from the CAZ since its introduction last year.

The council said it would also fund projects aimed at improving cycling facilities and extending 20mph zones.

The CAZ aims to improve public health by reducing pollution levels generated by vehicles.

The zone, introduced in February 2023, means commercial vehicles which do not meet emission standards have to pay either £10 or £50, depending on their size, to enter the city centre.

Private cars and motorbikes are not affected.

The city was required to introduce a CAZ by the government due to the high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the air.

The clean air zone boundary covers much of Sheffield city centre

Money generated by these schemes, which have been established in other cities in the UK, must be spent on running costs and on further measures to improve air quality.

The decision to fund a range of projects was made at a meeting of the city's transport, regeneration and climate committee.

A key beneficiary will be the School Streets programme, the committee's chair Ben Miskell said.

The project sees main roads outside schools, mainly primaries, closed at drop-off and pick-up times to reduce pollution from standing traffic and improve safety.

"School Streets allows young people to talk to others about why clean air is so important," Mr Miskell said.

He said the additional funding would allow them to extend the scheme to more schools in the city.

Mr Miskell said while it might inconvience some parents, "the vast majority of people do want the air their children is breathing to be better".

The council said a range of other projects would also benefit including increasing the number of 20mph zones and the creation of more green walls designed to absorb pollution.

The impact of the first year of the CAZ in terms of how much it has cut pollution levels will be released by the council later this year.