Norwich city centre zero emission plan funding blow

Norfolk County Council had been given £500,000 by the Department for Transport to put together a feasibility study to explore the benefits and impacts of a zone.

But the government has announced the Conservative-run council - one of only three authorities to get initial feasibility study cash - will not receive further money through its Zero Emission Transport Cities (ZETC) scheme, citing "funding pressures".

The idea of the zone - along with the planned introduction of electric buses - was to help eliminate exhaust emissions and encourage a switch to electric vehicles.

Exchange Street in Norwich (Image: Newsquest)

The streets it would have covered were those such as St Stephens Street, Red Lion Street, Castle Meadow and Exchange Street, where general traffic is already banned.

READ MORE: Norwich e-cargo bikes in £170k boost for city businesses

A council spokesman said: "The Department for Transport has now advised the council the Zero Emission Transport Cities programme will not be proceeding past the feasibility stage, due to funding pressures, and therefore there will be no opportunity to bid for additional ZETC funding.

"However, we continue to liaise closely with central government to look at other potential funding sources and has a strong track record in attracting funding for sustainable transport projects."

Green city and county councillor Jamie Osborn (Image: Jamie Osborn)

Jamie Osborn, Green county and city councillor, whose Mancroft ward includes the city centre, said: "It is very disappointing the government has failed on its promise to clean up air quality in cities like Norwich.

"We need urgent action to prevent more lives being lost simply from breathing in dirty air.

"Even without this funding, the council should be introducing ways to cut air pollution in the city."

Castle Meadow would have been covered by the zone (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

The authority, which recently unveiled its climate strategy, said it is committed to cutting emissions and has successfully obtained funding for schemes such as electric vehicle charging points and e-cargo bikes.