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Greater Manchester leaders are calling on HGV and Coach owners to help inform proposals for a new investment-led and non-charging Clean Air Plan for the city-region.
The case for a new, non-charging plan for reducing air pollution in Greater Manchester, currently with Government for review, sets out evidence for supporting an investment-led approach, rather than imposing punitive fees for vehicles. Proposals seek to encourage the owners of HGVs, coaches, buses, taxis and PHVs to upgrade to cleaner vehicles through targeted financial support. A previous charging scheme had been due to come into effect earlier this year, but was mothballed due to the global supply chain challenges affecting businesses’ ability to procure cleaner vehicles, as well as rising costs.
Greater Manchester’s leaders want the input of key stakeholders, including HGV and Coach owners, among the largest emitters of harmful nitrogen dioxide, to ensure the right funding, eligibility criteria and support can be put in place to enable vehicles to be upgraded to those with cleaner engines, while mitigating any additional economic risk or hardship to residents and businesses.
Input will help the city-region’s local authorities develop and assess measures that will form a new GM Clean Air Plan. A public consultation on the Clean Air Plan proposals will take place in early 2023, subject to government feedback.
HGV and Coach owners based in or travelling around Greater Manchester can share their views on the Clean Air Plan proposals via an online survey, available at this link until 10th October 2022.
To sign up for updates as the new plan is developed, visit the Clean Air GM website.