Clean Air Zone charges are 'highly unlikely' to be introduced across Greater Manchester except for in two boroughs, mayor Andy Burnham has said. Local leaders no longer want to charge any vehicles, but the government is yet to be convinced that their 'investment-led' approach will clean the air quick enough.
The government has now asked Greater Manchester to analyse the impact of introducing charges on some vehicles in the city centre and to compare this with its plan to scrap all charges and help upgrade vehicles instead. However, neither side now wants to impose charges outside of Manchester and Salford.
It comes after the controversial scheme to impose daily charges old vans, taxis, buses and lorries using the city-region's roads was paused last year following a public backlash. Greater Manchester submitted its case for a investment-led non-charging Clean Air Zone to the government in July.
