A NEW Clean Air Zone could be fully implemented in Bradford by January.

Next Tuesday Bradford Council's Executive will vote whether to move ahead with the plan - which will see the most polluting commercial vehicles charged up to £50 a day to enter an area that takes in much of the city centre and Bradford to Shipley corridor.

And a report to the executive reveals that Bradford has been awarded a grant of tens of millions of pounds to help vehicle owners switch to greener technology.

In 2018 the Government issued a ministerial direction to Bradford Council to come up with a plan to reduce the District's illegal air pollution levels.

The Council decided that a Clean Air Zone would be the best way of improving air quality in a short amount of time.

A report to the Executive says the Government has awarded £39.3 million funding to Bradford to help implement the zone, and support the upgrade of the most polluting vehicles.

Operators will be able to use this pot of cash to upgrade their vehicles to either less polluting engines, or completely overhaul them to greener power such as electric.

Mixed response to plans for Clean Air Zone in Bradford

HGV and bus operators could claim up to £16,000 per vehicle, while van and minibus operators could claim £4,500 for upgrades.

Of the total fund around £10 million will be set aside for taxi operators to upgrade their vehicles.

Private hire vehicles could get grants of up to £3,200 and Hackney Carriages up to £4,000.

The scheme will use a network of automated number plate recognition cameras to identify non compliant vehicles. The vehicles' owners would then be charged.

The report going to the Executive says there will be a "soft launch" of the Clean Air Zone in December, when drivers of non-compliant vehicles will receive a letter informing them the charges will come into play on January 4.

Private cars will not be included in the Clean Air Zone plan.

The full charges for vehicles entering the zone are

Buses & Coaches - £50

HGV - £50

Light goods vehicles, including minibus - £9

Taxi (Hackney or Private Hire) - £12.50

Small or medium sized businesses based within the zone will be able to apply for a possible exemption from the charging.

The Government has also released £3,960,000 in Clean Bus Technology Funding to upgrade 217 commercial buses in Bradford to CAZ Standard, and could soon confirm a further funding of £1,632,000 to upgrade the 102 remaining, non-compliant, commercial and tendered buses in the District to CAZ Standard.

Areas near major roads in Bradford city centre and Shipley have long been identified as having dangerous pollution levels.

Figures that will be given to the Executive say around 4.7 per cent of deaths in Bradford are attributable to air pollution.

The report says the scheme will have a "planned obsolescence" - as more vehicles are upgraded to cleaner technology income will decrease until it is "entirely eliminated."

The report says: "It is expected that natural compliance of fleet will be achieved over time as people upgrade their vehicles. The CAP program provides an opportunity for the Authority to use ‘nudge economics’ to ensure project success, by effecting long term positive changes in behaviour through low cost, high impact strategies."

Councillor Sarah Ferriby, portfolio holder for Healthy People and Healthy Places, said: “The government clearly recognises the urgent need to address poor air quality and improve health in parts of the city.

"The Clean Air Fund award is one of the highest announced so far, enabling the council to offer attractive grants to local businesses, and to develop a low emission economy in the city.”

To meet Clean Air Zone standards vehicles will have to meet the following specifications

Bus/coach - Euro VI

HGV - Euro VI

Van - Euro VI (Diesel) or Euro 4 (Petrol)

Minibus - Euro VI (Diesel) or Euro 4 (Petrol)

Hackney Carriage - Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG

Private Hire Vehicles (Non-Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) - Euro 5/6 Petrol Hybrid

Private Hire Vehicles (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) - Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG

Private Hire Minibus 5-8 seats (Non-Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle) - Euro 6 diesel / Euro 4 petrol or LPG