Businesses and residents in the Greater Manchester area can now have their say on a proposed Clean Air Zone, due to go live in the region from spring 2022.
The combined authority has been mandated by the Government to explore a Clean Air Zone and a statutory consultation on the planned Clean Air Plan package of measures was due in the summer but, as with other councils, was cancelled due to the pandemic.
It meant that the introduction of the Clean Air Zone that’s part of the package has been moved back to spring 2022, from its original 2021 due date.
But the consultation is now open. It runs until Thursday 3 December and invites views on key elements of the proposals, including the proposed Clean Air Zone boundary, daily charges for non-compliant vehicles, discounts and exemptions, and support funding.
The plan is for a ‘Class C’ charging Clean Air Zone that would levy penalties on non-compliant buses, coaches and HGVs, taxis and private hire vehicles, and light goods vehicles (LGVs), but not cars. There will also be a temporary exemption for LGVs until 2023.
Charges would be enforced on pre-Euro 6 diesel vehicles and pre-Euro 4 petrols and apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week, backed up by a network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. The consultation invites views on the possible level of charges, which would be set £60 for buses, coaches and HGVs, £7.50 for taxis and private hire vehicles and £10 for LGVs (from 2023). There would also be a Penalty Charge Notice of £120, payable in addition to the unpaid daily charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
The combined authority, which covers 10 local authorities, has already had £41m funding confirmed by the Government to support people and businesses affected by the proposal, but it’s asking for over £150m in total. This would include support those people whose livelihoods depend on using a van, taxi or private hire vehicle, and would encompass £6.5m for taxi electric vehicle infrastructure.
To have your say on the plans, click here.
