A DEBATE is raging over how to tackle Bradford’s high pollution levels, now ministers have dropped plans to fund a clean air zone.

Air pollution is estimated to cause 222 deaths a year in the district, with air quality at illegal levels at a number of the city’s busy junctions.

Last month, ministers angered environmentalists by revealing that Bradford would no longer be one of the cities forced to set up a Government-funded clean air zone, which can see “dirty diesels” barred from certain areas or charged a fee to enter.

This was because the Government now expects Bradford’s pollution levels to fall back to legal limits by 2021.

But Green party councillors have now warned that with Leeds still set to get a clean air zone, this could have a knock-on effect in Bradford by driving polluting traffic this way.

Green group leader Councillor Martin Love (Shipley) said: “We thought Bradford should be part of the clean air zone and that the whole of West Yorkshire should be included in it.

“The fact that Leeds is included and other areas of West Yorkshire aren’t, could just make the problem worse in other areas.

"If the bus companies are encouraged to put electric buses in Leeds, what are they going to do with their older ones? They’re just going to move their buses out and we are just going to end up with the dirty stuff from Leeds. As Leeds improves, everywhere else will deteriorate.”

Labour’s Councillor Val Slater, who leads on air quality issues at the Council, said: “The Green councillors are a little bit late to the table. I have been raising these concerns, particularly about buses, for a number of years.”

Cllr Slater said there had been pros and cons to the idea of Bradford having a clean air zone. She said it would have allowed them to access a multi-million-pound pot of Government funding to tackle pollution more quickly, but that any restrictions on vehicle movements could also have hampered local businesses.

Cllr Slater said they would continue to develop initiatives to tackle pollution.

She said: “We are keeping a very close eye on emission levels and we have recognised it is a health issue in Bradford.”

A Government spokesperson said: “Reducing roadside pollution is a priority for this Government – which is why we have committed £3bn to help towns and cities take action against harmful emissions caused by dirty diesels. Local authorities have access to a wide range of options as they develop plans to address roadside pollution in a way that meets the needs of their communities – both pedestrians and road users.”

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