The debate continues over proposed driving charges in Greater Manchester as local leaders seek alternatives to improve air quality
Greater Manchester: So, there’s been a lot of chatter about whether drivers will have to pay to hit the roads in Greater Manchester. The government body in charge has just shared some news about alternative plans.
Remember that clean air zone they were planning? It was supposed to charge hefty fees for buses, vans, and taxis starting in 2022. But, after a huge uproar, they hit the brakes on it just before it was set to launch.
While everything was on pause, Mayor Andy Burnham came up with a different idea. He suggested investing over £51 million to upgrade buses to cleaner models and another £30 million for taxis. Plus, he wanted to spend some cash on easing traffic in busy areas.
He sent this new plan to the government back in December 2023, but he’s still waiting for a green light. Officials have been pretty quiet about what’s happening.
Now, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has said they’ll give an update soon. This comes after transport secretary Heidi Alexander hinted that the government isn’t looking to charge drivers after all.
She made it clear: “We’ve got no plans whatsoever to enforce a paid-for clean air zone in Greater Manchester. Local leaders should decide what’s best for their areas.”
Defra also mentioned that air pollution is a big health issue and that local authorities know best how to tackle it. They’re wrapping up their review of Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Plan but confirmed there won’t be any pay-per-mile charges. An update is on the way!
This is a shift from their earlier stance, where they said a decision would come ‘in due course’. So, it looks like things are moving, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next!
