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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed calls from Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to scrap the daily charge for the most polluting vehicles from plans for a Clean Air Zone in the city-region.
The Clean Air Zone had been due to be introduced in May this year, but has been delayed in response to rising costs and supply chain delays that have prevented businesses accessing compliant replacement vehicles in time for the new rules. A new plan for the scheme, mandated by government as a means to bring NO2 air pollution in the city-region under control, is set to be developed by July 2022.
Following the announcement of the delay, Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has written to the Prime Minister calling for the charging element of the scheme to be ditched from the requirements set by government. Instead, he has called for Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras already installed to enforce the scheme be repurposed to connect with owners of the most polluting vehicles to encourage them to switch to alternatives with a lower environmental impact. The cameras would also signpost vehicles owners to financial support available to help them make the switch.
In his letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the city-region’s leaders, published on Twitter, Andy Burnham wrote:
“Given none of us want a single job or business to be lost due to a CAZ, we believe the additional time which Greater Manchester asked for will enable us to have a non-charging Category B CAZ.
“We are of the clear view that any new scheme should be based on incentives for individuals and businesses to change vehicles rather than a charging penalty regime. But, to succeed, this will require your government to agree to the extra financial investment needed to enable vehicle upgrades to happen without the owners incurring unacceptable costs.”
The FSB, representing the interests of the UK’s 5.8 million small businesses, has backed the Mayor’s call for charges to be scrapped from plans.
FSB development manager for Greater Manchester, Robert Downes, said:
This is what businesses have wanted to hear for a very long time: a clear commitment to a non-charging clean air zone model, or in the event of charging scheme being imposed a demand for ‘full financial support’ from government to help businesses upgrade their vehicles – or it doesn’t happen. This is only right and fair.
“We look forward to seeing a swift response from the Government which will give many businesses the certainty they need to plan for the future, in very troubling and increasingly expensive times.
“The underlying message in the mayor’s and council leaders’ statement is that there is a better way to achieve legal levels of NoX in our city region, without resorting to regressive taxation that hit those least able to pay the hardest. This has long been FSB’s position, so this is refreshing to see now being taken seriously. The statement also suggests there is new pollution data which has driven this fresh approach to compliance. This should be published to help everyone understand exactly what the picture is across GM.”