GREATER MANCHESTER CLEAN AIR ZONE (CAZ) COULD BE CUT TO JUST THE CITY CENTRE UNDER GOVERNMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Secretary of State, George Eustice has written to Metro Mayor Andy Burnham, suggesting that the CAZ should be cut to just the City Centre region which would be a massive 95pc downsize of the current targeted area.

The Government proposals would see a drastic cut in the coverage area of the CAZ but would also still require vehicles which do not meet the legal pollution limits to be charged, the majority of which would be taxis, buses, trucks and vans operated by business owners who are already feeling the pinch as diesel prices hit historic highs this week.

Cars owners were never targeted under the original scheme and that would remain the same under the new proposals, however campaigners claim that they could be included in the future.

Mr Burnham has called for all charges to be scrapped after he himself came under heavy criticism over the planned implementation of the controversial scheme which motorists branded the 'Burnham Tax', which was due to come into force in May before being suspended.

Some vehicles would and still could be charged up to £60 per day to enter the zone in which ever form it finally takes. Those charges would in all likelihood filter down to the public in one way or another.

Mr Eustice wrote in his letter:

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"A highly-targeted Category C charging scheme, over a small area where NO2 impacts are most concentrated, in practice Manchester city centre, could represent a path between two extremes, achieving most of the public health benefits of the original scheme while greatly reducing the potential impacts on local businesses.

"Early thoughts by my department are that you should be challenging yourselves to a reduction of the zone by some 95% or more. Similar or more ambitious schemes have been introduced or are soon to be introduced in several other city centres which suffer less serious air quality problems than Manchester's."

 

A decision on the future final implementation of the scheme is due to be taken soon, with requirements that NO2 emissions be cut to compliant limits no later than the 2026 deadline as set out by the Government.