Greater Manchester has asked the Government to put its forthcoming Clean Air Zone on hold in order for a “fundamental review” to be carried out.
The scheme was due to launch in May as part of a wider Clean Air Plan after the combined authority was mandated by the Government to explore a Clean Air Zone.
It was originally planned to go live in 2021 but moved back to spring 2022 due to the pandemic.
The ‘Class C’ scheme approved by Greater Manchester on 25 June 2021 will encompass buses, coaches, taxis, private hire vehicles, HGVs, vans and minibuses but not private cars. Covering the whole of Greater Manchester, excluding the strategic Road Network, the scheme is intended to secure compliance with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) legal limits on local roads in the shortest possible time, and by 2024 at the latest.
While the authority had secured more than £120m in government funding to help businesses upgrade to cleaner, compliant vehicles, it’s asked the Government to pause the next phase of the financial support scheme, citing concerns over global vehicle supply chain issues; the result of the semiconductor shortage and bringing particular issues for van supplies.
It’s also expressed concerns over the impact of the charges on residents.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, told Sky News it was “impossible to proceed on the current basis without causing real hardship to some of our residents”.
And commenting in a tweet, Burnham said the council had “tried in good faith to make the Government’s legal direction work. However, changes in the vehicle market mean it is impossible to proceed on the current basis without causing real hardship to some of our residents.
“This decision opens up the space for urgent, joint discussions with the government about potential changes to make the scheme fair for everyone.”
