LATEST UPDATE ON GREATER MANCHESTER CLEAN AIR PLAN

Greater Manchester’s (GM) Air Quality Administration Committee met yesterday to consider an update on the city region’s Clean Air Plan. The 10 local authorities remain committed to cleaning up the air residents breathe but in a way that does not put jobs, livelihoods and businesses at risk.

GM leaders submitted the case for an investment-led, non-charging Clean Air Plan in July, which does not include a charging Clean Air Zone. They are still waiting for detailed government feedback on the matter.

Last month the government asked the GMCA to provide further evidence in support of the plan.

·    They have submitted evidence to show how investment in zero-emission buses will help GM meet legal limits for nitrogen dioxide on the A58 Bolton Road in Bury with the launch of regulated bus services in Wigan and Bolton.

·    Government has also asked GM to model how its investment-led Clean Air Plan performs (in terms of delivering compliance with legal nitrogen dioxide levels) against the ‘benchmark’ of a charging clean air zone to address the nitrogen dioxide exceedances identified in central Manchester and Salford.

GM leaders expect to provide the additional evidence, which requires detailed modelling, to government by the end of June 2023. They remain committed and confident of the case for the investment-led, non-charging plan.

Once they have had full, formal government feedback on the Clean Air Plan following the submission of this additional evidence, they will consider timescales for a public consultation on the plan.

They are still accepting funding applications from eligible HGV and bus owners for vehicle upgrades. Nearly 90 percent of Greater Manchester’s bus fleet now meets government emission standards thanks to the government Clean Air Bus Fund. Funding has also been awarded to upgrade 385 HGVs.

While they await government feedback on the Clean Air Plan, the delivery of Clean Air funding support for other vehicles is under review. They continue to work with impacted vehicle owners to make sure government funding is used in the best way in support of an investment-led plan.

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