York is one of nine cities across England selected as Trailblazers' - to demonstrate how a city centre can be livable, accessible and, at the same time, reduce traffic congestion, pollution, noise, stress and all the other negative impacts of transport.

The Trailblazers' scheme is part of the Clear Zones initiative, set up by the Government to help to demonstrate how new technologies and other transport-related measures can really improve the quality of life in England's cities.

The main objective of the scheme in York is to make sure that the air quality objectives for the city are met by the target date of 2005.

The Clear Zones site is expected to cover the whole area within the inner ring road and also the main routes out of the city centre. Pollution monitoring will involve the setting up of more than 30 streetbox' pollution analysers.

Improving air quality is a vital objective. A Government health report recently showed that up to 24,000 people a year die early due to the presence of pollution - mainly produced by vehicles - in Britain's cities.

The other cities selected as Clear Zones Trailblazers' are Bath, Bristol, Camden, Leicester, Merseyside, Nottingham, Tyneside and Winchester.