The roll out of phase one of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan has been delayed and the Greater Manchester Council is working with Government to deliver a new Plan.
The Government has agreed that the first phase of the Greater Manchester charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ) for HGVs, buses, coaches and non-GM licensed taxis and private hire will not go ahead on 30 May 2022.
Greater Manchester Council has been particularly worried about the potential financial hardship for local small businesses and individuals, especially in the current climate of rising inflation, spiralling energy and fuel costs, high cost and lack of availability of new and second hand vehicles and recovery from two years of pandemic.
The plan had originally been developed under a legal direction to meet air quality limits by 2024. A new government direction now requires Greater Manchester’s 10 local authorities to bring nitrogen dioxide on local roads to within legal limits as soon as possible and by no later than 2026.
Greater Manchester now has until 1 July 2022 to work with government to develop a new plan that will clean up our air while protecting livelihoods.
Papers published in advance of the GM Air Quality Administration Committee meeting on Monday 28 February, will ask members to note:
- Wording on already installed Clean Air Zone signs stating the original opening date of 30 May 2022 will be covered.
- Applications for funding for light goods vehicles, minibuses, taxis and PHVs, and discounts or exemptions under the previous plan have been paused.
- HGV and bus funding remains open to support people to upgrade and help deliver improved air quality. HGV funding for small businesses is to open from 5pm on the afternoon of Monday 28 February. You can find out more here.
And the Committee have been asked to agree that:
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras that have already been installed will be utilised (under agreement with government) to gather ‘real time’ data to inform the new plan, including monitoring vehicle fleet renewal trends and specific traffic mix at key locations where nitrogen dioxide levels are in breach of legal limits.
We will of course keep you updated as any further details are announced.
The details of this article are taken directly from the GM Clean Air Zone Website, which you can access here and sign up for newsletters.
If you have any questions concerning your business, please don’t hesitate to contact the IN Accountancy Team who will be happy to help.
