Clean Air Zone Sheffield: Motorbike dealer Via Moto leaves city centre blaming CAZ costs

A Sheffield motorcycle dealer is leaving the city centre, blaming the Clean Air Zone.

Via Moto on Shoreham Street is moving to Barnsley this month, with boss Matthew Gilder saying: “It’s sad but the right decision.”

It is the second major motorcycle retailer to leave Sheffield this year after SMC on Walker Street announced it would close for good on August 31.

Mr Gilder said lorries delivering motorbikes and parts up to four times a week, and a valeting firm that came weekly, all paid the £50 charge and passed it on to them. It came on top of a rise in interest rates, soaring energy bills and a difficult market, he added.

He was also worried about the CAZ being extended to cover cars and motorbikes, which Sheffield City Council has said it will not do.

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Mr Gilder said: “The Clean Air Zone costs get passed on to us, it’s something we could do without. It’s not the only factor but they have all combined with the Clean Air Zone.

“I’m not in favour of it, I think it’s a revenue raising excuse. Vehicles are becoming cleaner all the time anyway. There are more emissions rules for bikes coming at the end of this year.”

The Clean Air Zone charges older diesel vans and taxis £10-a-day to travel on, or within, the inner ring road. Older coaches, buses and lorries are charged £50. It was introduced in February 2023.

Mr Gilder said he had sold the site to Blenheim Properties of Sheffield.

Via Moto, which employs eight, is set to open on Everill Gate Lane in Wombwell on June 27. It will sell fewer motorbikes and more clothing and accessories, he added.

SMC (Sheffield Motorcycle Centre) has a prominent position next to Derek Dooley Way. Owner Frank Hayes has said he wants to close after 20 years to spend more time with his family.

Sheffield City Council says it has been clear prior to the Clean Air Zone being introduced and on several occasions since it has no plans to charge private cars or motorcycles for travelling within the Clean Air Zone, “and that remains the case.”

The Clean Air Zone was introduced in February 2023 to reduce NO2 levels around the city by encouraging the owners of the worst polluting vehicles to upgrade to greener forms of transport. Air pollution contributes to around one in 20 deaths in Sheffield each year.

A spokesperson said: “The Clean Air Zone has been introduced to protect the health and livelihoods of all who breathe Sheffield’s air, now and in generations to come, especially the most vulnerable to pollution related health issues, such as the elderly, un-born babies and young children.

“Data collected by Sheffield City Council has shown that the number of the most polluting vehicles in the Clean Air Zone has reduced by two thirds since the CAZ launched, showing people and businesses are making the switch to cleaner vehicles.

“Ahead of the introduction of the Clean Air Zone, the Council launched its Financial Assistance Scheme to support those with the most polluting vehicles to replace or upgrade to a cleaner vehicle.”

Financial support is still available and can be found here: Apply for financial support to upgrade or replace a polluting vehicle | Sheffield City Council