'I was caught out by Sheffield's Clean Air Zone' - Reader's letter
Andy Whitworth has his say on Sheffield’s Clean Air Zone
I received a PCN for contravening the Clean Air Zone in my small Peugeot Partner van.
I had been on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition weekend in the Hope Valley with Huddersfield South West scouts and was returning home.
It was Bank Holiday Monday at 3.30pm.
I followed the main Hathersage road into Sheffield, around the ring road and north up the A61 to Huddersfield, not wanting to clog the country lanes and take the Strines road to Langsett.
I thought I was safe on the dual carriage way ring road, avoiding the city centre, but apparently not.
The Clean Air Zone includes the ring road.
I assumed the ring road was there to direct traffic around the centre and the Clean Air Zone.
It's like including the M25 or the M60 around Manchester in their respective clean air zones.
After a very long wait I spoke to someone at the council today and it seems they would recommend rat running through the suburbs rather than taking the longer route along A roads and dual carriageways.
I understand the needs of the council to raise revenue in this low cost easy manner but I really would like to know what one is to realistically do to travel around Sheffield on a bank holiday in a small van.
It's very frustrating.
Perhaps one of your readers may have a solution.