OTLEY’S MP has ‘warmly welcomed’ the decision to fund a clean air zone in Leeds.

Leeds City Council was given approval to implement a Clean Air Charging Zone, supported by £29 million from the Government, this week.

That means the owners of polluting lorries, coaches, taxis and private hire vehicles will, from January 6, 2020, be charged up to £50 per day for entering parts of the city.

The zone covers most of the area inside Leeds’ outer ring road but doesn’t extend to Wharfedale or Aireborough. Local campaigners, however, are hoping that it could be extended.

MP Alex Sobel (Lab, Leeds North West) has been lobbying the Government to fund the zone after the city council’s request for £40 million was refused in November.

He said: “This is good news for Leeds and great news for my constituents who have been subject to high levels of pollution from the A660 for far too long. We face an air quality crisis in Leeds as we do in all UK major cities, and this proposal means Leeds will be leading the way.

“I would like to congratulate Judith Blake and the council on their tireless efforts to see this deal over the line. It has not been easy and I have had countless discussions with ministers as well as the Secretary of State, urging them to put proper funding behind Leeds’ proposals.

“We are still short of the overall funding we asked for but this is a huge step forward and allows the implementation process to begin. It shows what can be achieved when we work together for the people of Leeds and Wharfedale.”