Drivers in and around Greater Manchester have been handed a major update on the future of the region’s Clean Air Zone which has been delayed for over two years.
Clean Air Greater Manchester has announced that drivers will not face additional charges as the area will benefit from an investment-led plan to improve air quality.
As part of this, Greater Manchester will see 117 new lower and zero emission buses through £86million worth of funding following an assessment by the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
Clean Air GM stated that other regions had identified Clean Air Zones as the best way forward for improving air quality, evidence suggested that Manchester can achieve legal compliance faster without charging motorists.
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Mayor Andy Burnham has praised the outcome of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone endeavour
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This decision rules out a Clean Air Zone with motorists not being charged to drive inside Greater Manchester thanks to new buses and traffic-calming measures.
In total, £51.1million will be designated to low and zero emission buses, £5million for local traffic management measures, £8million to support the switch to EVs for taxis and up to £21.9million for “administration, delivery, monitoring and other associated costs”.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said he was “grateful” that the Government had listened to evidence from Clean Air GM and local drivers.
He continued: “This is the right decision for Greater Manchester and it gives people here the certainty they have long needed.
“Because we have implemented the first phase of the Bee Network on time and on budget, the Government clearly trusts us to deliver and has seen the evidence that our approach is working.”
According to data from DEFRA, Greater Manchester has had the highest rate of air pollution of any region across the country for the last two years.
Clean Air Greater Manchester has estimated that the air quality has been contributing to high asthma rates and up to 1,200 early deaths each year.
Commenting on the latest update, Maddy Dawe, Regional Clean Air Lead at Asthma + Lung, said it was a “good first step”, but did not go far enough to address concerns.
She added: “Whilst we welcome the measures outlined in the plan, they are only designed to cut air pollution levels to just below legal limits, far above the internationally recognised guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Without striving to meet WHO guidelines, Greater Manchester will not achieve the rapid reduction in air pollution necessary to safeguard people’s health, particularly those with lung conditions.”
Local leaders have also been told that they can review and cancel contracts relating to the previously proposed Clean Air Zone, which includes signs and cameras that were installed prior to the original May 2022 start date.
Lilian Greenwood, Future of Roads Minister, praised the “groundbreaking” Bee Network that helps locals get around the city in a more sustainable manner.
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Manchester’s Clean Air Zone was originally set to launch in May 2022 GETTYSpeaking previously to GB News, Mayor Andy Burnham said he would resist all cars to introduce a charging Clean Air Zone, saying that an investment-led approach was the way forward.
Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy echoed these calls, saying: “Local authorities know their communities well and so they need to develop plans that are most effective for their local area, and I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists.”