Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) bosses have raised 'fundamental' concerns over the level of government funding being provided for the soon to be implemented Clean Air Zone (CAZ).
Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, has released a statement on behalf of the authority tonight revealing that they are seeking approval from the secretary of state for an 'urgent' review into the launch of the Clean Air Zone in May this year.
This first phase of the Clean Air Zone will see buses, HGVs and non-Greater Manchester taxi and private hire vehicles begin to be charged.
This will cover all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester - an area of around 493 square miles - which would be the largest scheme of its kind in the country.
Read more: Map shows where 800 Clean Air Zone cameras are as row over scheme continues
HGVs, buses and coaches would need to pay £60 a day, taxis and private hire vehicles paying £7.50 and vans £10 a day from 2023 if they do not meet standards.
Failure to pay the charge would also result in a £120 fine.
It is claimed this charge would 'cripple hard working people'.
A Manchester Evening News survey of readers also found that 91 per cent thought the plans needed a rethink.
Mr Boylan has tonight issued a statement explaining that the government issued legal direction in 2020 requiring all boroughs in the region to to reduce air pollution by 2024 as it is said to contribute towards at least 1,200 deaths per year.
Greater Manchester was offered £120m by government to support people in upgrading their vehicles to become compliant with the new rules, but many small businesses have said this will not be enough, and could cause many to collapse.
However, after listening to recent protests, the GMCA has raised 'fundamental' concerns over current funding plans.
The Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee is set to meet on January 20 to discuss the current government funding schemes, and to go to the secretary of state for an 'urgent policy review' into the CAZ.
In a statement, Mr Boylan said: "Greater Manchester is experiencing dangerous and illegal air quality due to NO2 exhaust emissions and other vehicle pollution, leading to serious health problems and 1,200 premature deaths every year.
"Modelling has shown that there are 152 locations across the 10 Greater Manchester local authority areas where NO2 emissions will remain beyond legal levels without action.
"In March 2020, the government issued a legal direction requiring the ten Greater Manchester local authorities to address the problem by introducing a Category C charging clean air zone - which principally addresses commercial vehicles including HGVs, buses, coaches, minibuses, vans, taxis and private hire vehicles that do not meet prescribed national standards for NO2 emissions."
Greater Manchester was given a time limit of 2024 to meet legal NO2 levels.
"It is clear the path to compliance with the legal direction and to cleaner air is dependent on the ability of those owning the most polluting non-compliant vehicles to upgrade to cleaner vehicles," Mr Boylan added.
"The Plan includes £120m of government funding to support those with non-compliant vehicles to upgrade their vehicle, with a mechanism to review funding arrangements if demand is predicted to outstrip our current budget."
However, over the last six months businesses have raised a number of issues, ranging from supply chains to inflation.
Mr Boylan added: "Based on this evidence, there is a fundamental concern that these global and national factors may impact on the ability of local businesses and individuals to upgrade their vehicles and whether the current financial support package agreed with government – including nearly £100m of funds due to open at the end of January for light goods vehicles, minibuses, coaches and taxis and private hire vehicles – is sufficient."
The meeting of the committee on January 20 will consider these implications for the CAZ.
However, the GMCA is legally bound by the government that it "must not vary, revoke or suspend their implementation of the local plan for NO2 compliance … without the prior written consent of the Secretary of State," according to Mr Boylan.
He adds: "The Committee will therefore be recommended to seek approval from the Secretary of State requesting to pause opening of phase two Clean Air Funds at the end of January 2022, to enable an urgent and fundamental joint policy review with government to identify how a revised policy can be agreed to deal with the supply issues and local businesses’ ability to comply with the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.
"The Committee will also be asked to confirm that preparations to launch the first phase of the Clean Air Zone charging from May 2022 – buses, HGVs and non-Greater Manchester taxi and private hire vehicles - will continue."
