Charging CAZ plans in Manchester shelved

The move has been welcomed by the RHA, which described it as a boost to hauliers in the region already struggling with soaring costs.

Instead, the government announced an £86m scheme to help clean up Manchester’s air with 117 new lower and zero-emission buses.

Minister for the Future of Roads, Lilian Greenwood said: “Manchester will be able to reduce pollution from transport without having to charge motorists, and new, cleaner buses will help Mancunians get around easily while still bringing down emissions across the city.”

The RHA has campaigned for alternative measures to be introduced to improve air quality, which avoided hitting small commercial vehicle operators with additional costs.

Chris Ashley, RHA senior policy lead, said: “Tackling poor air quality must be a priority and we fully support that ambition.

“We’ve consistently campaigned for measures to support investment in cleaner vehicles and improve existing infrastructure, so we’re pleased that the government and Greater Manchester is going ahead this way. This is a welcome boost to businesses struggling with soaring costs who operate there.

“We continue to call for existing charging clean air zones elsewhere to be closed down once legal air quality targets are met.”

The city council’s leader, councillor Bev Craig, said the prospect of a charging CAZ was now “no more”.

She added: “Instead we can get on with investing in improvements which will clean up our air without the prospect of charging hanging over the owners of higher emitting vehicles.

“After years of delay and dithering under the previous government, it’s great that we finally have clarity and certainty about how clean air will be achieved in Manchester and the rest of Greater Manchester – and that they have agreed with agreed with our case that it can, and will, be achieved without the need for charging.”