Mayor outlines proposals for Clean Air Zone delays
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has proposed alternatives to the Government’s order to impose a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) on the 10 local authorities across the region.
The first phase of the scheme is due to begin in May this year, but Mr Burnham had called on the Government to delay the introduction.
Following a comment by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Parliament yesterday (February 2) that this was unworkable, Mr Burnham has responded, saying: “I am now proposing that the Secretary of State issues a new direction to provide for the following:
“First, that the Clean Air Zone scheduled to begin on 30th May 2022 continues but as a non-charging GM-wide Category B CAZ (including buses, HGVs and non-GM registered taxis). This will allow people time to adjust and, instead of fines, people will be contacted to advise to where they can find support.
“Second, that all private-use leisure vehicles – such as motorhomes, camper-vans and horseboxes, as well as cars, motorbikes and mopeds – are permanently exempted from the CAZ.
“Third, if the evidence supports it, that there will no longer be a GM-wide Category C zone (including vans and GM-registered taxis) but either a reduced Category C scheme or no Category C scheme at all. This will depend on the Government decision on an amended year of compliance.
“Fourth, to reconfirm that this is a temporary CAZ which will last no longer than it is needed to achieve air compliance. Early discussions have already begun with Greater Manchester Police with regard to the potential use of the ANPR infrastructure in the second half of this decade for policing purposes. If this proposal was to be taken forward, there would be a full public consultation on it and all of the implications carefully considered.”
He said it is now for the Government to decide whether it is prepared to set a new date for compliance and what that date should be.
But he insisted that it is important people are aware of the consequences of this.
He said if the Government permits a delay to compliance to 2027, compliance could be achieved without requiring a charging CAZ scheme – and Mr Burnham suggests re-designing the scheme with that aim.
The focus, he said, will be on targeted action to increase compliance. Instead of fines, owners of vehicles which would have been in breach will instead be contacted and signposted to support and funding.
The longer time period would allow real-time air quality data to be analysed to identify any areas which continue to exceed the legal limit. And a decision could then be taken on whether additional localised measures are needed in those areas to achieve compliance by 2027.
He added that, if the Government permits a delay to compliance to 2026, he would propose a similar approach to that described above, but additional measures could not be ruled out.
There would need to be a highly targeted approach to non-compliant vehicles in areas with continuing air quality exceedances and sufficient government funding to support upgrading of vehicles.
If the Government permits a delay to compliance to 2025, Mr Burnham said it would be more difficult to achieve and, while a non-charging Category B scheme would still apply from May 2022, it is likely that charges would have to apply at a specified point and a smaller charging Category C scheme in 2024, which would have to be informed by further evidence.
He said that failure to lift the current Ministerial Direction leaves all 10 councils with a scheme that will harm businesses and, according to the latest evidence, not achieve compliance by 2024, whereas, a delay to 2026 or 2027 will make the CAZ much fairer while still achieving compliance by the middle of this decade.
