City wins £29m funding for traffic charging zone to combat air pollution
THE GOVERNMENT has committed £29m in funding for a council to pursue controversial traffic charges to tackle air pollution in Yorkshire’s largest city.
Leeds City Council has been given final approval from the Government for its plans for the clean air charging zone, which follows a ruling from the European Union that air quality in Leeds needs to improve. The proposed zone would see high-emission heavy goods vehicles and buses charged £50 a day, while taxis and private hire vehicles registered in the city would pay £50 a week.
The Government’s funding will see £23m used to help businesses adapt and get greener vehicles, while £6m will go towards creating a CCTV network to monitor number plates of vehicles entering the zone.
It marks a reduction in the original amount of £40m sought by the council. A letter sent in November by Environment Minister Therese Coffey said the council needed to provide more evidence
as to the viability of the scheme, suggesting it could be cheaper.
Coun James Lewis, the executive member with responsibility for sustainability and the environment, stressed the council will not make any money from the charges, and added: “We recognise that this will be a difficult transition for some businesses to make. We will be working hard to make sure this money is available swiftly.”