INITIAL results of research into the impact on public health of the district's Clean Air Zone have been described as "hugely encouraging".

A study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has found evidence of an improvement in both respiratory and cardiovascular health.

One year after the Clean Air Zone was launched, the team discovered that on average – compared to previously – there were 598 fewer GP visits for respiratory health and 134 fewer for cardiovascular health each month, reducing the burden on GP practices and saving the NHS an estimated £30,743 per month.

Born in Bradford director Professor Rosie McEachan – who has produced a report into the study – welcomes the findings, but sounds a note of caution.

She says full research won't be completed for another two years.

Prof McEachan adds: "It’s important to stress that these are interim figures, and as the baseline period coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, we need a longer time period to be able to fully disentangle impacts of Bradford’s Clean Air Plan and Zone.

"Nevertheless the results are hugely encouraging and indicate important benefits of clean air on improving health.

"Reducing demand for GP appointments caused by preventable pollution-related illness should help to ease the burden on our over-stretched NHS.

"Our results also show how the Bradford Clean Air Zone is popular with the majority of people, with a 60 per cent approval rating amongst the public one year after its launch.

"Our previous research underlined how poor air quality can put pressure on our hospitals and GPs and how it impacts on children’s growth and brain development.

"But that research focused on a time when district pollution levels were exceeded on an average of 157 days per year – 43 per cent of the time. Clean air measures appear to have reduced that number and had a positive impact on people's health."

Under the Clean Air Zone scheme, commercial vehicles that fail to meet certain emission standards are charged a daily fee to enter Shipley and Bradford. Ordinary passenger cars are exempt.

Earlier this year, automatic monitoring stations recorded the lowest level ever of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in the zone area.

Throughout the zone, NO2 had fallen to levels lower than those recorded during the lockdown of 2020, when traffic levels reduced by 50 per cent.

NO2 is linked to increases in mortality and hospital admissions.