Conservatives MPs in Greater Manchester have written to the government calling for the roll out of the area’s planned ‘Clean Air Zone’ to be ‘paused’.
The letter to the Environment Secretary, George Eustice says that further consultation is needed as the Covid-19 pandemic has radically altered the situation the city-region faces.
They added that while they supported efforts to reduce air pollution and recognised that a Clean Air Zone was being brought in to bring emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) down to legal levels they were concerned both about the model chosen for Greater Manchester and the levels of support allocated.
They said “localised solutions” were required to improve air quality rather than a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Bolton West and Atherton MP Chris Green, one of the signatories says that the as the implementation of the scheme approaches, businesses and other organisations are becoming concerned with inherent problems in this scheme and the insufficient funding to cover costs of replacing vehicles.
These problems are obviously compounded by the fallout from coronavirus he adds
