Greater Manchester businesses urged to have their say on clean air plans

Businesses in Greater Manchester are being urged to make sure they have their say in two major public consultations on air pollution plans.

Businesses and people across the region still have several weeks to have their say in the consultations, which run until 11:59pm on Thursday 3 December 2020. People can find out more and give their views at cleanairgm.com and gmtaxistandards.com, or request further support, including copies of consultation documents, on 0161 244 1100. In a first for Greater Manchester, the websites are hosting a virtual engagement space open 24/7 during the consultation period given government guidance around social distancing.

For businesses and taxi operators, the Clean Air team is hosting a series of webinars, which offer a more detailed presentation and an opportunity to ask questions about the plans and funding packages being proposed.

Councillor Andrew Western, Greater Manchester Green City-region Lead, said: “We are fully aware that businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic, and a further national lockdown to stem the spread of the virus means they continue to be impacted.

“But air pollution also continues to affect us all, particularly our poorest communities, those with health conditions, older people and children.

“Many roads across Greater Manchester are in breach of legal limits for nitrogen dioxide, and we need to act now. Our Clean Air Plan is an important part of our post-pandemic recovery, cleaning up our commercial vehicles and providing bus operators and hackney carriage and private hire drivers with access to funding to move to a modern, cleaner fleet – not to tackle congestion.

“It is hugely important for businesses to have their say through the public consultation process to bolster our case and develop our ask of Government for appropriate funds to make sure people get the support they need.

“We have worked hard to produce a funding package that provides the right level of support to help businesses and traders upgrade their vehicles to meet the emission standards of the CAZ.

“Now is not the time for people and businesses to be silent – we want to hear from everyone so that we can clean up our air together. Your voice will help shape our final plans and, fundamentally, the future of our city-region.”

The Clean Air consultation asks for views on key elements of the Zone, including its proposed boundary, daily charges, discounts and exemptions, and the funding packages to support local businesses to upgrade to cleaner vehicles.

The purpose of the CAZ is to improve air quality by encouraging drivers to upgrade to a cleaner vehicle. Non-compliant vehicles would start paying the proposed daily charge when the Zone launches (expected in spring 2022), with the exception of vans and minibuses, which would start paying in 2023.