This week marks the last chance for truck fleet operators to have their say on the Leeds clean air zone proposals.

Leeds City Council has contacted Fleet News to ask for our help in encouraging as many fleets as possible to respond before the consultation ends on August 12.

It is keen to understand the challenges they might face and how it can help to mitigate and minimise any negative impact on businesses operating in and around the Leeds area.

Your views can influence the council’s thinking. Following a discussion roundtable with councillors in January, jointly held by Fleet News with British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, Energy Saving Trust and ACFO, the original proposals for a zone stretching out to the motorways encircling the greater Leeds area were amended to allow fleet operators access to the motorway without being charged.

The council is working on a proposal to submit to central government later this year for a charging CAZ B, which will introduce a charging system for non-compliant vehicles (pre-Euro 6 diesel and pre-Euro 4 petrol) in the following classes: buses, coaches, HGVs, taxis and private hire. If approved by Government, the proposed scheme would come into force in 2020.

To have your say on the clean air zone proposals, click on the link: https://www.leeds.gov.uk/business/environmental-health-for-business/air-quality

Nottingham City Council has also opened its consultation on plans to improve air quality in the city to comply with legal emissions limits. 

The city was one of five - the others are Birmingham, Derby, Leeds and Southampton - which was identified as needing to take action in a Government clean air plan published in 2015.

After analysis of potential options, the local authority has opted against introducing a clean air zone but has suggested measures that could be introduced to lower pollution.

These include enfiorcement of anti-idling legislation, a city-wide air quality management area, bus retrofits and stricter requirements for taxi drivers.

Consultation has now opened on these proposals and can be found here - http://www.transportnottingham.com/consultations/improve-air-quality-nottingham/