Council bosses seek permission to pause clean air zone
A committee will meet next week to decide what's next for the controversial scheme
Last updated 13th Jan 2022
Council bosses in Greater Manchester are set to ask for part of the plans to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ) across the region to be paused.
The zone will charge certain high polluting vehicles to enter the region.
Its introduction aims to reduce Greater Manchester's illegally high pollution levels.
The scheme caused widespread anger in recent weeks with people taking to social media, and the streets to protest against its introduction.
In a recent statement, Greater Manchester Combined Authority said "the committee will be recommended to seek approval from the Secretary of State requesting to pause opening of phase two Clean Air Funds at the end of January 2022."
They hope a pause in the plans will allow more time to lobby the government to provide further support to businesses affected by the scheme.
They add, "There is a fundamental concern that global and national factors may impact on the ability of local businesses and individuals to upgrade their vehicles and whether the current financial support package agreed with the government, including nearly £100m of funds due to open at the end of January for light goods vehicles, minibuses, coaches and taxis and private hire vehicles, is sufficient."
The Committee will also be asked to confirm that preparations to launch the first phase of the Clean Air Zone charging from May 2022 will continue.
In response to the latest update, the Federation of Small Businesses in Greater Manchester has welcomed the news but called for a wider pause to the program.
FSB Development Manager for Greater Manchester, Robert Downes, said: “We are pleased to see business sentiment is, at last, being listened to be decision-makers within the GMCA, but what they have proposed amounts to precious little and doesn’t go nearly far enough."
“In one breath the GMCA acknowledges there are global supply chain issues preventing business updating their vehicles, and inadequate state funding for businesses to mitigate the costs. But in the next, they commit to ploughing ahead with charging for HGVs, buses and coaches starting, as was always planned, on May 30."
“If they understand there are supply chain issues with vehicles – and that’s all vehicles – and that the funding currently on offer they agreed to in July is inadequate, then this has to be reflected in a general pause of the wider scheme for all affected businesses. You cherry pick when the stakes are so high for so many businesses. It’s totally unfair and underlines what a muddle the CAZ is at heart."
The committee is set to meet on the 20th of January.