Manchester CAZ plans could be scrapped if deadline extended

Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone charges ‘could be scrapped if deadline is delayed to 2027,’ says Andy Burnham. 

In a statement issued yesterday afternoon (February 2), the Mayor of Greater Manchester called on the government to extend the deadlines given to councils to be compliant with air quality standards to 2027. 

The Mayor said that a Clean Air Charging scheme would not be required if the deadline is 2027.

He said: ‘The more time the government is prepared to allow, the greater the level of protection that can be provided to jobs and businesses in Greater Manchester and the less punitive the measures will need to be.

‘Throwing money at it is not going to solve it. It was clear to us in January that a delay would be the only thing that would allow the redesign of the scheme and a different way of achieving compliance.’

The mayor also said that all private use leisure vehicles, such as motorhomes, campervans, and horseboxes as well as cars, motorbikes, and mopeds should be permanently exempted from the Clean Air Zone regardless of an extension.

It comes after Boris Johnson said the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone is ‘completely unworkable’ at Prime Minister’s Questions today (February 2).

The environment secretary is expected to make an announcement about the future of the Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester within the coming days.