Drivers in Greater Manchester will not face additional charges as the area is set to benefit instead from 117 new lower and zero-emission buses in a £86 million scheme to help clean up the region’s air, the Government has confirmed today.
Defra and the Department for Transport have rigorously assessed an investment-led plan proposed by local councils and concluded it will meet legal obligations to reduce nitrogen dioxide pollution.
While local authorities in other areas have found that a Clean Air Zone is the best route to cutting nitrogen dioxide pollution, Greater Manchester provided evidence they can achieve compliance with legal limits faster without charging.
Today’s decision rules out a Clean Air Zone in Manchester so motorists will not be charged to drive into the area. Instead, there will be a fleet of new buses and traffic-calming measures to improve air quality in the region.
The investment-led package includes:
- £51.1m towards bus investment, including 40 zero emission buses, 77 Euro VI standard buses and charging infrastructure;
- £5m for local traffic management measures;
- £8 million to support moving Greater Manchester’s taxi fleet to cleaner vehicles
- Up to £21.9m for administration, delivery, monitoring and other associated costs.
- Local leaders have also been told they can review and cancel contracts relating to the Clean Air Zone, such as signs and cameras.
Leigh and Atherton MP – Jo Platt – said: “I know that many of my constituents will be relieved that the Government and Ministers have agreed a Clean Air Zone is not necessary.
“It’s also brilliant to hear that the plan the Greater Manchester Authorities submitted has been approved and that the area will benefit from an £86 million scheme to clean up the region’s air.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “We are grateful to this Government for listening to Greater Manchester and for this vote of confidence in our investment-led approach to cleaning up our air. This is the right decision for Greater Manchester and it gives people here the certainty they have long needed.
“Because we have implemented the first phase of the Bee Network on time and on budget, the Government clearly trusts us to deliver and has seen the evidence that our approach is working. The Bee Network is cleaning up our air and keeping the cost of travel as low as possible. Its success is allowing us to remove a big weight of worry off the shoulders of people who need to drive as part of their job.
“We are grateful to Steve Reed and Heidi Alexander for backing us with funding to take our approach further and faster. We will now continue to work towards an all-electric bus fleet whilst investing in local traffic measures and supporting our GM-licensed taxi drivers to upgrade to cleaner vehicles.”