Major city cancels London-style ULEZ scheme set to charge drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles up to £60 a day
Confirmations have been made that drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles will not be charged daily to enter a low emissions zone, similar to the Ultra Low Emission Zone, within one of the country's largest cities.
The plans for a Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester have been cancelled following government commitments to invest £86m to tackle the region's air pollution.
The Government has agreed to allocate £51.1 million to bring low and zero-emission buses to Manchester, provide £8 million for a grant scheme to support taxi companies and drivers in making the switch to electric vehicles, and allocate £5 million for the implementation of various new traffic measures designed to reduce vehicle emissions.
A further £21.9 million has been allocated for administrative expenses, project implementation, supervision, and other associated costs.
However, the latter could feature extremely low speed limits, such as 10mph in certain parts of a busy city centre, as it had previously come to light.
The announcement brings an end to plans to fine motorists up to £60 a day following a massive public outcry.
The proposals for a Clean Air Zone have already seen over 1,000 signs and 400 monitoring cameras put in place in Greater Manchester, funded by millions of pounds of public money.
This move sets a precedent for scrutinising other congestion zones across the country, especially ones that currently charge drivers on a daily basis to reduce traffic when less drastic measures could feasibly meet air pollution targets.
.
It not only had to cover Greater Manchester but also affect areas of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan.
.
Welcoming the announcement, Mr Burnham described it as a 'vote of confidence in our investment-led approach to improving our air quality.
'This is the correct choice for Greater Manchester, providing the inhabitants here with the peace of mind they have been seeking for a long time.'
In England, several local authorities, such as those in Bath, Bradford, Bristol, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Oxford, Portsmouth and Sheffield, have brought in charges for motorists in a bid to reduce pollution and bolster air quality.
-City centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee have been restricting drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles since summer 2023.
Councils are required to create plans to decrease nitrogen dioxide levels, and the UK has a target for its annual average concentration to be no higher than 40 micrograms per cubic metre.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Transport confirmed that they thoroughly evaluated the investment-led strategy for Manchester to satisfy its air quality commitments.
'While other local authorities have concluded that a Clean Air Zone is the most effective way to reduce nitrogen dioxide pollution, Manchester has presented evidence demonstrating they can meet the legal standards sooner without the need for a congestion charge,' it said in an official announcement.
councillor Mr Burnham put his plans for a congestion charge on hold in 2022 following significant local opposition.
He cancelled the plans in December 2023, claiming that he could meet his commitment to lowering nitrogen dioxide levels with a funding package instead.
In Quay Street from its junction with Peter Street and Deansgate to Gartside street.
Councillors received the proposal at a meeting of the environment, climate change and communities committee on Thursday, 11 January.
The proposal came under fire from some in the audience, with concerns being expressed about how it would actually be effective in reducing the city's pollution given the severe disruption it would cause to the traffic flow.
Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy stated, "To enhance our health, our well-being, and the environment, we must improve our air quality."
'autonomous authorities have a strong understanding of their respective communities, and to be effective, plans need to be tailored accordingly. I am pleased to see that Greater Manchester has identified a way to lower emissions efficiently, without implementing congestion charges for drivers.'
The Minister for Road Provision, Lilian Greenwood, stated: 'Manchester will be able to lower transport-related pollution without putting motorists through congestion charges. Instead, new cleaner buses will enable Mancunians to travel while still reducing the city's emission levels.
'We will persist in collaborating with influential local figures to establish stronger, more interconnected neighbourhoods, address our climate goals and transform Britain into a leading force in renewable energy, as detailed in our Plan for Change.'
Clean Air Zone signs on Greater Manchester's roads - totalling over 1,000 - are currently marked 'under review' following the abandonment of the plans in late 2023.
Removal of the signage is expected to commence immediately, but will take a considerable amount of time to complete.
The 400 automatic number plate recognition cameras installed to enforce the area will also cease to be necessary. Nonetheless, it is probable that they will still be kept in place.
'Greater Manchester Police have the ability to formally request ANPR data to support their efforts in gathering evidence for criminal inquiries,' states Clean Air Greater Manchester.
If the government decides to utilise Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras in Greater Manchester for law enforcement purposes, a public consultation will be held to discuss such proposals.
Post a Comment for "Major city cancels London-style ULEZ scheme set to charge drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles up to £60 a day"