News
Greater Manchester bosses to ‘pause’ Clean Air Zone roll out amid backlash
Bolton Council leader Martyn Cox confirmed that the plans have been put on hold ‘for now’
Greater Manchester bosses are said to be in talks to ‘pause’ the introduction of the controversial Clean Air Zone.
The scheme, set to come into place from May 30th 2022, will charge vehicles that do not meet emissions standards between £7 and £60 when driving within the Clean Air Zone, which will cover 493 square miles of Greater Manchester, making it the largest of its kind in the UK.
While private cars, motorbikes, and mopeds won’t be affected by the scheme, some vehicles that do not meet emissions standards – known as ‘non-compliant vehicles’ – will still be charged.
The Clean Air Zone – which aims to reduce air pollution across the region by 2024 – has been met with a massive backlash, with tens of thousands of people stressing that it will negatively impact small and local businesses.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has previously reassured business owners that ‘help is on the table’, with him telling BBC Radio Manchester last week: “It’s a challenging situation… But we have no choice but to bring in these measures to cut air pollution as it’s an instruction from the government.
“We want to do it in the right way that cleans up the air and help our businesses.”
But now, councillors have confirmed that the plans have been temporarily ‘paused’ amid ‘valid concerns’ about the supply chains for new vehicles and ‘retrofitting’ to make them clean-air compliant.
Yesterday, Bolton council leader Martyn Cox told Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) that the plans have been put on hold ‘for now’.
Councillor Cox told the Bury Times: “The implementation of the Clean Air Zone has been paused for lighter goods vehicles and taxis, with the exception of heavy good vehicles, buses and out of town taxis.
“We are happy with that they have taken this action but would have like it to have gone further and for the Secretary of State to pause it.
“The Combined Authority want to now sit down with the government to discuss the issues.”