Sheffield City Council has announced it will review plans to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ) following a decline in air pollution levels during the coronavirus pandemic.
This follows Bristol and Leeds City Council, which have both shelved similar CAZ schemes in recent weeks.
While a public consultation held by Sheffield City Council in 2019 found the majority of respondents were in favour of charging the most polluting vehicles, the council said it will now look at alternative options following a change in travel patterns and therefore emission levels.
Sheffield City Council said it has seen a decrease in air pollution between January and August, some 33% lower than the same period in 2019, and will thus review the impact of Covid-19 on air quality and transport as well as the wider business ramifications.
Cllr Bob Johnson, cabinet member for transport and development, Sheffield City Council, admitted that the council is worried that people and businesses that cannot afford to upgrade to cleaner vehicles, due to focusing on controlling the spread of the virus, may end up paying to pollute.
“We know that air pollution disproportionately harms the poorest, most deprived areas,” he said. “Action to improve the air we all breathe in Sheffield is essential and everyone has a role to play. During the coronavirus pandemic we have seen improvements in air quality and we want to sustain them.
“However, we are reviewing our plans for the clean air zone in light of coronavirus. If we can hold onto clean air by introducing other measures without resorting to charging people, we believe this is the best way forward. Alternative measures include incentives for upgrading vehicles, better provision for walking and cycling, and cleaner public transport.”
According to Sheffield City Council, there is currently no date for when its clean air plans will be delivered and that a decision would only be taken when there is a better understanding of the impact of Covid-19.
The council added that it will continue to work with the UK government’s Joint Air Quality Unit to develop final plans.
