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<p>Air pollution is a major public health risk and is a particular threat to vulnerable
groups including the elderly and those with chronic respiratory and heart diseases.
The mortality burden of the air pollution mixture based on both PM2.5 and NO<sub>2</sub>
in the UK is an effect equivalent to 28,000 to 36,000 deaths (Committee on the Medical
Effects of Air Pollutants, 2018).</p><p>Under the 2017 UK Plan for Tackling Roadside
Nitrogen Dioxide Concentrations and its further Supplement in 2018, 61 local authorities
were directed to develop plans for delivering NO<sub>2</sub> compliance in the shortest
possible time. Bradford was identified in the 2018 supplement as having roads exceeding
legal levels for NO<sub>2</sub>, and since then has been working on a local plan to
identify and implement measures to address these exceedances in the shortest possible
time to safeguard public health.</p><p>As the 2017 plan sets out, it is for local
authorities to determine what the appropriate solution is for tackling NO <sub>2 </sub>concentrations,
reflecting the highly localised nature of the problem. In some cases, local authorities
will determine that a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is the intervention required. However,
given the potential impacts on individuals and businesses, when considering between
equally effective alternatives to deliver compliance, Government has been consistently
clear that if a local authority can identify measures other than charging zones that
are at least as effective at reducing NO<sub>2 </sub>to legal levels but with less
of an impact, those measures should be preferred. Any alternative will need to deliver
compliance as quickly as a charging CAZ if it is to be preferred for inclusion in
the plans which local authorities develop.</p><p>Having gone through a detailed business
case development process following guidance provided by the Government's Joint Air
Quality Unit, Bradford has identified that a Class C Clean Air Zone is needed in order
to deliver the legal obligation to tackle NO<sub>2</sub> exceedances in the shortest
possible time. Government considered the business case submitted by Bradford earlier
this year and has accepted Bradford's evidence that a class C CAZ is required. As
part of this approvals process, the business case and supporting evidence were considered
by an independent technical panel established to review the evidence submitted by
local authorities to support their proposals. The Government is now working with Bradford
on the implementation of the CAZ and has also provided Bradford with £31 million from
the Clean Air Fund to help local businesses and individuals adapt to the CAZ, including
grants to help upgrade vehicles.</p>
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