York city council are looking to eradicate “non-essential” journeys into the city centre made by vehicles in the next three years – a move that would make it the first car-free city in the UK!

In a bid to cut pollution in the city centre and make York carbon neutral by 2030, the city council has backed plans to ban private vehicles coming into the city centre, which would see the historic city become car-free within just three years.

Being a popular tourist hotspot, York regularly faces gridlock traffic, making it difficult for locals and tourists to travel into the city centre – particularly in its peak tourism period in the summer.

The ban was proposed by Labour councillor Jonny Crawshaw, who told The York Press:

“People’s first response might be to be a bit anxious about what we’re proposing,”

“But that doesn’t mean it’s not the right thing to do.

“The public mood is changing – particularly in relation to climate change.”

Plans will now be drawn up on how to execute the ban, however it has been confirmed that disabled and elderly residents who rely on car travel will be exempt from the ban.

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