York is in line to become the first city in the country to implement a clean air zone, which could include using rickshaws to transport goods to shops and restaurants in the city centre.

YorkMix and York Press both report polluting vans and HGVs could be added to the vehicles restricted under the city’s clean air zone scheme.

The first compulsory clean air zones planned to tackle high pollution levels in Leeds, Bath and Birmingham were due to be launched in January 2021 but being delayed due to Covid-19.

But York’s is still due to be rolled out in January, a council meeting heard, applying at first to buses, but possibly being extended in due course.

Mike Southcombe, from the council’s public protection team, is quoted as saying, “Just to stress, ours is the first clean air zone in the country.

“Whilst many other cities have backed off implementing a clean air zone for various reasons, York has pushed ahead and delivered the first one in the UK.”