Sheffield Clean Air Zone: Council considers changes after petition is launched.

Sheffield Council is considering implementing an automated payment mechanism for Clean Air Zone payments.

Sheffield City Council chief executive Kate Josephs announced at the latest monthly full council meeting (October 1) that five persons had signed an online petition requesting the automated system.

According to the petition, it is morally correct to give an easy and automated manner to pay CAZ [Clean Air Zone] payments.

Sheffield City Council has a moral obligation to make the program and levies easy to pay.

This entails an automatic withdrawal from a bank account or credit/debit card when a bill is due.

The term “automated” refers to the process of paying charges without the driver’s involvement. Create a system in which CAZ users can create an account and select their preferred payment method for each car.

When the cameras register, the system should automatically bill for the CAZ cost. “Please provide a system that serves the people.”

 

The petition said an automated system would allow businesses to pay their way and not be fined.

Owners of mainly commercial vehicles that do not meet government emissions target have to pay CAZ charges of between £10 and £50 a day or face a fine.

The zone extends around the inner ring road and city centre.

Petition organiser Don Jenkins was not at the meeting but asked for the petition to be read out on his behalf.

Councillor Ben Miskell, chair of the transport, regeneration and climate policy committee, responded that a written reply would be sent to Mr Jenkins.

He told councillors that he has asked officers to look into the proposal.

He added: “Today only 0.8 per cent of vehicles entering the Clean Air Zone are required to pay – that’s down from 1.2 per cent in 2023 – and that’s a clear sign, isn’t it, that Sheffield is moving in the right direction with more people switching to cleaner vehicles.

This is very important because that means fewer children are in hospital with lung conditions, fewer premature deaths and a healthier future for everyone. It’s something we should all be proud of and I think it’s something future generations will thank us for as well.”

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