Lib Dems call on Labour to stop dithering over clean air zone

Sheffield Lib Dems are today calling on Labour councillors to stop dithering over the launch of Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone.

The Clean Air Zone was agreed last year by the Labour/Green coalition then running the council, and the city is now committed to it having received funding and a legal direction from the government. The scheme entails charging high-polluting vans, buses, coaches, and taxis within the inner ring road – but not private cars or motorbikes. The Clean Air Zone is ready to go and just waiting for the Labour co-chairs of the Transport Regeneration and Climate Committee to give the final sign-off on the communications plan for the scheme.

Over £4,000,000 worth of additional funding to implement the scheme was accepted on the 6th of September, and the Council has secured more funds than originally expected from the government to support drivers.

Previous delay to the Clean Air Zone has already cost the Council over £1,200,000, significantly contributing to the Council’s overspend of around £18,000,000. Further delays will bring more costs.

Lib Dem Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Waste and Street Scene Committee, queried the inexplicable delay to the communications, saying “Taxi drivers and businesses in Sheffield need to know what is going on and they need to be able to apply for the cleaner vehicle grants as soon as possible. The decision on the clean air zone was made last year and it is ready to go.

“We asked for extra money and got it, and if we don’t now go ahead, our reputation as a city for keeping our promises will be damaged and it could put our city at serious risk of legal action costing taxpayers tens of millions of pounds.

“The Labour co-chairs need to step up to the responsibilities they have and decide. The time to make changes has gone, and delay is only going to cost us money and do harm to our city’s reputation and to the air we breathe. If the co-chairs fail to decide soon, it could cause a costly special meeting of all 84 City Councillors to do it for them.”