£40m plans for clean air zone ‘need new evidence’
LEADERS OF Yorkshire’s biggest town hall have been warned by the Government that more evidence is needed before Ministers will back their £40m plans for a ‘‘clean air zone’’.
Last month Leeds City Council submitted a plan to central government which would include a camera network and grants for taxi drivers to upgrade to greener vehicles.
The scheme follows a ruling from the European Union that air quality in Leeds needs to improve. The clean air charging zone would see high-emission HGVs and buses being charged £50 a day, while taxis and private hire vehicles registered in the city would pay £50 a week.
A letter sent in the past week by Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey said the council needed to provide more evidence as to the viability of the scheme, suggesting it could be cheaper.
James Lewis, the council’s deputy leader, responded in a meeting yesterday afternoon, claiming he is “disappointed” with the outcome.
The letter from Dr Coffey read: “Before a decision can be made, more work is required to improve the evidence supporting the bid in line with our guidance on the fund.
“It is important that you set out clear evidence of the need for support, how it is being targeted to the least well-off and how it will deliver value for money.
“We anticipate that the provision of this evidence to support assumptions on the uptake of schemes provided, as well as how they will support the most vulnerable businesses and drivers affected, will result in a further reduction of the bid presented in October by at least a third.”
The total amount of government funding being sought by Leeds City Council adds up to £40m. It is anticipated the Government will make a decision on the grants by December.
Coun Lewis said: “The letter asks us to re-submit our bid not using our knowledge to best meet the needs of the city but to a predetermined and lower level of funding by the end of November.”
Plans for a similar clean air zone were unveiled by Sheffield City Council earlier this week.