A planned Clean Air Zone in Bradford “remains a major priority” - despite other Yorkshire councils reviewing similar schemes.

In recent weeks both Leeds City Council and Sheffield Council have announced that they will be reviewing their plans for a Clean Air Zone - which would see the most polluting vehicles charged to enter certain areas.

But Bradford Council has this week said it is pushing ahead with the plan - and will finalise its business case with the government next month.

In 2018 Bradford Council was handed a “ministerial direction” by the Government, ordering the reduction in the city’s dangerously high pollution to legal levels as soon as possible.

In response the Council proposed a Clean Air Zone that would cover most of Bradford and Shipley - the areas of the District with highest pollution levels.

Although private cars would not be charged for entering the zone, HGVs, buses, taxis and coaches that do not meet clean air standards would be charged up to £50 a day for entering the zone.

It would be dependent on a £60 million Government grant that would help provide support for businesses looking to upgrade their vehicles. Vehicles that had Euro VI compliant engines would be exempt from charges.

More buses in Bradford now meet 'Euro VI' emission targets - meaning they will avoid Clean Air Zone charges

The project was dubbed “Breath Better Bradford.”

A Clean Air Zone was due to be introduced in Leeds this year, but last month the authority announced that due to improving air quality - likely caused by the Covid 19 pandemic leading to a fall in commuting, it was pausing the scheme.

Leeds Council Deputy Leader James Lewis said: “If the city’s air pollution is expected to stay below legal limits then we will no longer have the support of the government to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone. Given this uncertainty, our financial support will continue to be paused until the review is complete and we have received further direction.”

And last week Sheffield Council announced that it to was reconsidering a Clean Air Zone Plan for the city due to improving air quality levels.

Coun Bob Johson, Cabinet member for transport, said: “The current situation is dramatically different to the one in which our proposals were originally developed.

“In finalising our clean air plans we will review the possible impacts of Covid-19 on businesses, transport, and air quality. 

“This will help us decide if the same action is needed, or if changes can be made to be successful in reducing air pollution for the long term.”

Bradford Council, however, says the Clean Air Zone plans are still progressing. Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for Healthy People and Healthy Places, said: “Improving the air quality of the district remains a major priority for Bradford Council. We absolutely recognise the seriousness of poor air quality. Quite literally it costs lives.

“This is why we are working closely with the Government to put in place a wide range of interventions to reduce pollution in the shortest possible time across the district, not just within the proposed Clean Air Zone.

"Having completed our consultation process, we are on track to finalise our business case with the Government in the next month in order to implement a Clean Air Zone in 2022.”