If you are not aware Manchester has had a Clean Air Zone area on hold for a few years now and Manchester has just submitted a new proposal to the government if accepted, it will replace the Clean Air Zone with support to make buses and taxis go green.
Many Liverpool and Manchester Airport Transfer companies were worried about the clean air zone because if it affects Manchester Airport then they would have to increase their prices to match the increase in tolls or be forced into hybrid or electric cars.
The government wants Manchester to produce a certain amount of emissions by a certain date, and the clean air zone was the solution. Many people don’t want this to come into effect because it’s just another cost the locals have to pay out. Manchester has concluded that it will support the Buses and Taxis to lower their emissions, which will hopefully improve the air quality within the Manchester region enough to satisfy the government’s targets.
“A key element of the proposed plan is investment in cleaner buses, and latest figures show improvements in the Greater Manchester bus fleet is already helping to improve air quality, with air quality monitoring data for 2023 showing that air pollution has fallen compared to 2022 – and is significantly lower than levels recorded pre-pandemic in 2019.”
“Using £86.7m of Clean Air funding that has already been allocated to Greater Manchester, the plan would use £51.1m for 40 new Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs), depot electrification in Manchester and Bolton, and 77 new Euro VI clean air compliant buses (whereas the previous plan was for 64 new ZEBs and depot electrification in Manchester, Bolton and Middleton).”
“There is no change to proposals that would see £30.5m made available to help owners of all eligible hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to upgrade to a cleaner vehicle and £5m invested in local traffic measures to better manage traffic flow – and bring nitrogen dioxide within legal limits – on Regent Road and Quay Street.”
Hopefully, the new plan will get accepted and the clean air zone will be scrapped, if you live in Manchester and considering a new car maybe it’s time to go Hybrid or Electric.
Check out Greener Greater Manchester for more information regarding this story.
Check out Driver Matty’s video on the article:
