Rotherham charity hit by Sheffield's clean air zone charge, causing drop in bookings for classic buses used for events like weddings

South Yorkshire Transport Museum’s historical double-deckers are popular at celebrations — but about two thirds of trips will be affected by the city’s £50-a-day surcharge being brought in next week.

It means the Aldwarke-based charity putting up prices for hiring out — and the number of bookings is already down.

Secretary and trustee Martyn Benson said: “We are run entirely by unpaid volunteers from among our membership.

“Membership fees and admission fees paid by the public on open days are only part of the income that we require to cover our increasing costs.

“Significant income is generated by the hiring out of some of the historic buses, primarily for weddings.”

There were 68 wedding hires in 2022 — the first full year without Covid.

Martyn said: “We would have expected to do at least 50 this year, with most of them booked by now.

“However, we currently only have 32 bookings for 2023, which suggests that the additional cost of the CAZ is already having an adverse effect on what is vital income for our charity.”

The reason most bookings will be hit by the CAZ charge is because of the high number of couples marrying at Sheffield’s register office.

Martyn said: “Did the politicians who agreed the CAZ regulations consider their full implications? It would seem not.

“Do the councils operating CAZs have the discretion from central government to provide local, sensible exemptions? It would seem not.

“Bearing in mind that the government information about CAZs does not even define what constitutes a historic vehicle, as you have to look elsewhere, has the CAZ scenario had proper oversight by politicians? Apparently not.”

The museum has absorbed the charge for bookings made before the Sheffield CAZ was finalised — but ones since June 2022 will include the additional £50.

“We can only hope that it will not deter too many future hirers,” said Martyn.

Sheffield Council did not respond to the Advertiser’s request for comment before our deadline yesterday.