It has been one of the most divisive political issues in Greater Manchester in recent months – and it was a decisive one for some voters at the ballot box. The Clean Air Zone dominated the news at the start of the year as people spotted signs warning the controversial scheme would soon commence.
Daily road charges for the most polluting commercial vehicles - ie taxis, works vans, lorries, buses and coaches - had been discussed for years, but in 2022 it became a massive issue for many motorists across the city-region.
The mooted scheme would have started in May, and would have seen vehicles with the highest emissions charged up to £60 a day for driving on Greater Manchester's roads, except most motorways and A roads managed by Highways England. Campaign groups formed, cabbies staged protests and politics got personal.
