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Politics and regulation

Manchester to consult on delayed clean air zone plan

Signs in Birmingham informing road users of the clean air zone initiative, which will come into place on June 1. The scheme, which was originally due to go live during 2020 but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, has been described by the AA as having "good intentions but bad flaws". Picture date: Saturday May 29, 2021. PA Photo. See PA story TRANSPORT Birmingham. Photo credit should read: Jacob King/PA Wire

A consultation on a new plan for a clean air zone in Greater Manchester will be launched next year.

Plans for a fee-paying zone to improve air quality were postponed in February, to find a solution that was fairer to local businesses and residents.

Councillors, who approved the new draft plan this week, want the zone to be charge-free and use the £120 million the Government has agreed to give the city region to fund vehicle upgrades, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

A ‘Category C’ charging CAZ covering Greater Manchester was due to be launched from May 30, and would have operated seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Non-compliant coaches and HGVs were due to be charged £60 to enter the zone, and taxis and private hire vehicles £7.50, with a temporary exemption for Greater Manchester-licensed vehicles until May 31, 2023.

Older vans and minibuses would also get an exemption until the same date but would be charged £10 thereafter.

Charges were due to be based on vehicles meeting certain emission standards – Euro6/VI or better for diesel engines, and Euro4 or better for petrol.

After the Government agreed to postpone the scheme, it gave local leaders until July to create a new proposal by which Greater Manchester’s air quality must meet legal standards by 2026.

The new CAZ plan was submitted for Government approval this week.

*Article Source www.newspress.co.uk

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