Greater Manchester has been given until 1st July 2022 to develop a new plan for tackling air pollution after the government agreed to delay the Clean Air Zone.
Charges had been due to come into effect from May 2022 that would see the most polluting vehicles face a daily charge to use the road network in Greater Manchester in order to tackle dangerous levels of NO2 air pollution in the city-region. Following concerns about financial hardship for local people and the availability of compliant vehicles, government has agreed to lift a legal direction requiring the implementation of a charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities have been given until 1st July 2022 to develop a new plan for bringing air pollution under control.
Greater Manchester’s Air Quality Committee met on the 28th February to agree first steps in response to a recent report to the committee. Signage already installed will be covered to remove mentions of the 30th May launch of the Clean Air Zone. Applications for funding for financial support for some vehicle types, including taxis and light goods vehicles have also been paused.
However, HGV and bus funding remains open to support people to upgrade and help deliver improved air quality. HGV funding for small businesses is also opening.
The Committee also agreed that ANPR cameras already installed to enforce compliance with the Clean Air Zone will now be used to help inform new plans for the scheme. The will be used to monitor the different vehicle types at locations where NO2 levels in the air are above legal limits in order to shape the new scheme.
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