Clean Air Charging Zone consultation
Staff are being encouraged to have their say about plans to improve air quality in Leeds.
The University signed the Clean Air Leeds pledge in February this year to raise awareness of air quality issues in the city and to encourage behaviour change at both organisational and individual levels.
One of the many projects undertaken by Sustainability Services at the University is the Living Lab for Air Quality. Launched in November 2017, it aims to use improved knowledge of air quality to drive projects that reduce emissions from vehicles and limit exposure to poor air quality on campus and in surrounding areas. Learnings and outcomes will be shared with the city so that the benefits can be maximised.
Earlier this year, Leeds City Council consulted on proposals for a Clean Air Charging Zone (CAZ) to help address air pollution levels within the city. Responses received from more than 9,000 individuals have helped in understanding how CAZ could affect businesses and residents in Leeds. Based on these comments (and further economic, traffic and pollution analysis), some amendments have been made to the proposals.
They include:
- reducing the charge for heavy goods vehicles, coaches and buses from £100 to £50 a day
- reducing the boundary of the CAZ to mitigate the economic impact on businesses, whilst ensuring the plan still achieves improvements in air quality inside and outside of the CAZ
- stipulating which vehicles are eligible for exemptions; and
- outlining the logistics of how the zone will work
The latest public consultation gives people an opportunity to shape final CAZ proposals, which will be presented to the government later this year.
The survey can be completed online or in person by visiting your local community hub or public library. Read here to find out more about how you can have your say and see the FAQs section for further information about CAZ.
The consultation runs until Sunday 12 August 2018.
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