York clean air zone could be extended to cover private cars

The clean air zone currently applies to local bus services only, but council documents shared with The Press show that expanding it “to cover commercial vehicles and, if appropriate, private cars” is being considered.

The Liberal Democrat opposition group has branded the suggestion as “a secret plan to introduce a ULEZ (ultra low emissions zone)” but Labour has said this is “scaremongering".

The clean air zone requires buses to meet Euro VI emission standards as a minimum, or be fully electric.

City of York Council executive member for environment and climate emergency, Cllr Kate Ravilious, said: “This idea, suggested by council officers, is one of many to stimulate discussion around what measures councillors want to consider to improve air quality in York, and is therefore not administration policy.

Cllr Kate Ravilious. Picture: CYC

“Liberal Democrats are once again scraping the barrel by making claims they know to be untrue and in doing so, have opted to follow Sunak’s scaremongering tactics rather than be factual with the York public.

“This administration is committed to clean air and affordable ways to get around and this is the start of a conversation with the York public, and councillors, about how that is achieved.”

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Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said: “We asked for clarity from the Labour administration at the executive meeting on Thursday on their plans for the clean air zone.

“These discussions should not be held in secret.

“We have seen in all the public papers that the clean air zone is likely to just cover freight and taxis with no suggestion that private vehicles would have to comply.

“However, in an email sent to all councillors asking for comment on Labour’s policy ideas for the upcoming transport plan was the suggestion that private vehicles come under an extension of the clean air zone.”

Cllr Nigel Ayre, left, and Cllr Andrew Hollyer, right. Main picture: York Lib Dems

Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Hollyer said: “Residents deserve an explanation from Labour about their secret ULEZ plans.”

He added: “We want to see action on air pollution, which is why the council needs to focus on the policy ideas that will see a reduction in the need for car journeys and will make a sizeable impact on the climate crisis.”

Cllr Chris Steward, Conservative group leader, criticised the Liberal Democrats over their comments.

“This does seem that the Lib Dems are looking for column inches rather than anything tangible and is the very sort of headline-grabbing silliness that York residents are sick of,” he said.

“Labour is doing a consultation on transport and it is understandable that this will therefore feature a number of options.

“The Conservatives have been clear that we would oppose any sort of congestion charge and indeed submitted a full council motion ruling it out, with this being passed in July.”

Other policies that have been suggested to improve air quality in York are to expand electric vehicle charging facilities to keep pace with public demand, as well as to support the development of green infrastructure along transport corridors.

Council officers are also considering replicating Oxfordshire County Council’s ‘carbon reduction hierarchy'.

This includes prioritising actions that avoid energy consumption, such as avoiding unnecessary journeys, and actions that save energy, such as replacing street lighting with LEDs.