SALFORD TAXI DRIVERS TAKE TO THE ROADS IN CLEAN AIR ZONE PROTEST THIS MORNING

Some 40 plus taxi drivers took to the roads of Salford this morning, as many others across the whole of Greater Manchester joined together in protest over impending Clean Air Zone charges which would see many of them forced out of work.

On driver we spoke to, said:

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"It will cripple our industry"

"I've had many sleepless nights worrying about if I will be out of work in the coming months, which is a very real possibility if these totally unfair Clean Air Zone plans go ahead.

"We're facing huge price hikes in the coming months with the cost of living set to soar, so the burden of having to buy a new car to continue to have a job and make ends meet is just the final insult."

 

The Salford leg of the protest convoy set off from Hallsworth Road in Eccles shortly after 11am and slowly wound its way through the streets to their final destination on Salford Quays.

Watch our video here: https://fb.watch/aXDZ8cjiaE/

Other protest groups headed from areas across the region into central Manchester to make their voices heard.

Meanwhile, embattled Metro Mayor Andy Burnham has vowed to end the clean air zone the minute it can be, which protestors claim will be far too late for them as they will already have been forced off the roads and out of their jobs.

Burnham insisted that the CAZ would be a temporary measure, only in operation until the regions air pollution falls to an acceptable level. But the the governments own air quality sensors already indicate levels to be consistently amongst some of the lowest in the country.

Mr Burnham speaking on the Mike Sweeny show on BBC Radio Manchester said:

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"I just want people to know that this thing will be switched off the minute that it can be."

But protestors argue that they should never be switched on in the first place, citing the current data and the devastating impact the scheme would have on local businesses as well as those looking to do business in the region.

Meanwhile even the PM Boris Johnson has waded in on the issue, claiming it to be 'Completely Unworkable'.

In the last few months, Mayor Burnham's popularity has taken a major tumble with calls for him to step down as a result of the fiasco.