BRADFORD Council has hit back over concerns about the impact of the new Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on businesses in the city centre.

Keith Wildman, owner of The Record Cafe on North Parade, says the new Clean Air Zone introduced in September is one more thing that is making it harder for people to get into Bradford city centre.

Mr Wildman said: "CAZ doesn't help at all. There's a reason that other cities haven't done it.

"It just seems to be more barriers are put in place and thrust upon us to make life a bit harder.

"Business has been ok for us since the start of CAZ, but I worry about people not choosing to come into the city centre because of CAZ and that it could be harder to get taxis.

"I've noticed the impact of CAZ charges on deliveries and we have to pass that cost on."

Along with CAZ, he said other things like the recent introduction of parking charges on North Parade and fewer trains in the evening are making it harder for people to get into the city centre.

Mr Wildman said: "You need to make it easier to get into Bradford not harder."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Passenger cars are not charged to drive in the CAZ, wherever they come from, and all Bradford district businesses and residents who own commercial vehicles are entitled to exemptions from charges.

"We understand that the Broadway shopping centre has not seen any reduction in footfall since the launch of the CAZ.

"We have monitoring programmes in place to measure the impact of the CAZ from both air quality and traffic volume perspectives.

"Transport operators have taken advantage of support offered to upgrade vehicles and are offering compliant travel options to our visitors.

"We are seeing increased numbers of taxis operating in the district compared to last month and 92% of our Bradford taxi fleet is compliant.

"CAZ affects older commercial vehicles only, this is less than 4% of traffic.

"Heavy goods vehicle operators which serve Bradford were offered funding both inside and outside the district.

"Many delivery companies from outside the district area are already operating compliant fleets and are even using electric vehicles in the city centre.

"The Clean Air Zone will improve health in the city and the largest reductions in pollution will be at schools, where children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of air pollution.

"Up to one-third of childhood asthma cases in the city are caused by traffic pollution – the Clean Air Zone will help address this."

 

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