Labour councillors are calling for cars with high emissions to be charged when driving through Manchester city centre – in contrast to their own party's policy. Manchester councillors Jon-Connor Lyons and Marcus Johns want an ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) to be introduced in the city centre to tackle pollution.
It comes as Greater Manchester awaits a decision from the government on the future of the Clean Air Zone which was due to come into force earlier this year. Under the original scheme, the most polluting vans, taxis, lorries, buses and coaches would have faced daily penalties for using the city-region's roads.
But the plans were paused following a public backlash with leaders in Greater Manchester now calling for the scheme to focus on funding vehicle upgrades. Responding to a request to scrap all charges, former environment secretary George Eustice suggested charging certain vehicles in the city centre only.
READ MORE: Manchester's worst roads for traffic and pollution revealed
However, Labour politicians across Greater Manchester have backed mayor Andy Burnham's latest proposal for a non-charging investment-led scheme. Manchester council supports this proposal – but some councillors from the ruling Labour group believe a ULEZ in the city centre should still go ahead.
They want all through traffic in the city centre with high levels of emissions, including cars, to be charged, with residents living within the ring road exempt. Councillors voted in favour of exploring this proposal and enforcing 20mph speed limits within the city centre at a full council meeting in January 2020.
But the local authority is not looking at implementing a city centre ULEZ now. Coun Lyons supports the move towards helping upgrade vehicles rather than simply fining drivers, but says a different approach is needed in the city centre.
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He said: "The emissions in the city centre are resulting in lung related diseases and we can see this particularly with younger people and children, where you wouldn’t expect to see these illnesses develop at such early ages."
Transport bosses have argued that electrifying Greater Manchester's bus fleet will cut emissions enough to bring most places within legal limits on pollution. But Coun Lyons has argued that a ULEZ is needed to to curb the emissions created by commercial and private vehicles cutting through the city centre.
His Labour colleague Coun Johns agrees, arguing that, together with a city centre ULEZ, changes to make alternatives to driving easier are also needed. He said: "While clean air is not just a city centre issue and I do support a consensual Greater Manchester-wide approach, I do think the concentration in the city centre means that an city centre ULEZ would be appropriate."
Lib Dem councillor Alan Good, who represents Ancoats and Beswick ward, added: "The council needs to be brave in tackling air pollution but the appropriate support is needed to make sure sole traders aren't unfairly affected. There must be better financial support for workers who have had to pay thousands out of their pocket to ensure vehicles are compliant."
Labour councillor Tracey Rawlins, who is Manchester council's executive member for environment, said: "We are committed to improving air quality in Manchester for the health of the city's people and to help tackle climate change. The council is fully supportive of Greater Manchester's proposal for an investment led, non-charging Clean Air Zone which we believe would achieve this goal without placing an additional cost on some people who are already grappling with a cost of living crisis.
"We are awaiting the government's decision on the Greater Manchester proposal. We are not looking at implementing an Ultra Low Emission Zone.
"Clearly if government reject the non-charging zone proposal we would need to review our options. As a council which is always open to learning, we have been looking at the impact of traffic and emission control measures in other areas. That doesn't mean we will apply them here."
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