A PROTEST against the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) and the creation of 15-minute neighbourhoods was held in Bradford city centre today.
Around 100 people gathered in Centenary Square outside City Hall at 12pm with signs and leaflets created by organisers, Campaign Against CAZ Tax in Bradford.
A message-laden double-decker bus then followed the procession onto the streets of the city centre.
Followed by a couple of police officers, crowds walked along Market Street to Upper Piccadilly and John Street then back down Westgate to City Park.
Leading the parade, Matthew Betts was blurting out "say no to Bradford Clean Air Zone, private cars will be next" on a megaphone.
Speaking to the T&A, he said: "We all want clean air but we are not going the right about doing it.
"I am fighting for the people. There is no personal gain for me.
"This does not affect me, I don’t have to pay to get into Bradford but I see struggling businesses.
"People are getting fined through the door, so the campaign is accelerating.
"As a team, we are not against clean air, just targeting certain individuals."
The group campaigned heavily to stop the CAZ charge in Bradford before it was implemented in September 2022.
Paul Thomas and Dave Oxley came from Leeds and Shipley to join the peaceful protest.
The former said: "We wanted to join the protest because these things are being rolled out across the country.
"Solidarity against the anti-car agenda whether that be CAZ or the 15-minute zones.
"I do not know how much cleaner you can get and what benefits they think it is going to give people."
Dave said: "Bradford Council need to listen to people in the area.
"The Council do not seem to be listening to local business owners."
One small business owner from Idle said: "I don’t think Bradford Council should be charging businesses who go through the CAZ zone.
"We should be like other cities that don’t charge and instead use other methods.
"The money should be invested in having cleaner buses and helping local businesses out with cleaner vehicles.
"I would rather go shopping anywhere but BD1 because you know you are going to be hit with a charge. It is ridiculous."
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