A quick guide to the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone
What is the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone?
If you live in Greater Manchester, you’ll probably have noticed Clean Air Zone signs popping up across the city. The zone will cover most of the region and is designed to help cut pollution by charging vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards.
The zone will be Category C, meaning it’ll be one of the strictest in the country, and its implementation has been directed by the Government.
Commercial vehicles are likely to be the most affected as private cars, mopeds and motorbikes won’t be charged in the new zone.
Why is the Clean Air Zone being introduced?
The Clean Air Zone is being introduced to help cut down the illegal levels of air pollution currently being recorded on roads across Greater Manchester. We all know that pollution is bad for the environment, but it also impacts the health of some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Deprived communities, children, the elderly, and those already suffering with chronic health conditions like asthma and heart disease are the most at risk. And it’s though that the dangerous levels of pollution in the city leads to 1200 premature deaths each year.
What areas of Greater Manchester will the Clean Air Zone cover?
The zone will roughly follow the boundary of Greater Manchester and cover most of the city. It stretches to Ramsbottom in the north, Altrincham in the south, Wigan in the west, and Glossip in the east. Road signs will let you know that you’re entering the Clean Air Zone.
It’s hoped that covering the whole area, rather than picking and choosing problem roads, will make it less confusing for drivers and stop the pollution being moved to a new area.
Which vehicles are affected by the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone?
Non-compliant vehicles that’ll have to pay to enter the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone include vans, light goods vehicles, HGVs, buses, coaches, minibuses, taxis and private hire vehicles, motorhomes, and campervans. You can find out whether your vehicle meets the emissions standards by visiting the Government website.
If you’d like to upgrade your vehicle before the charge comes into force, funding will be available. These will mainly be targeted at small businesses, sole traders, and those working in the voluntary sector to allow them to upgrade their fleets and purchase compliant models. The amount of support on offer will depend on the vehicle type and size.
How much will I have to pay to enter the Clean Air Zone?
No matter when you travel, there’s no avoiding the charge; the Clean Air Zone will operate year-round and 24 hours a day. The good news is that you only need to pay once per vehicle in each 24-hour period and there’s no limit to the number of times you can re-enter the zone during that day. You’ll be able to pay through a government payment portal up to seven days in advance or seven days after using the zone. Daily charges range from £7.50 to £60 depending on the type of vehicle you drive and its engine.
How will it be enforced? A network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be in place and if you’re caught not paying, you’ll face a Penalty Charge Notice of £120 on top of the daily rate (reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days).
When will the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone start?
The initial plan was to introduce the Clean Air Zone in two stages. Daily charges were scheduled to begin on 30th May 2022 for any non-exempt HGVs, buses, coaches, taxis, and private hire vehicles. This would be extended to all remaining non-compliant vehicles including minibuses, coaches, light goods vehicles, taxis, and private hire vehicles from 1st June 2023.
But the plans have proved controversial; sole traders and small businesses are especially concerned about mounting operating costs after already been hit hard by the pandemic. People are also worried that they won’t be able to upgrade their vehicles in time due to the ongoing worldwide vehicle supply chain issues.
The Mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, has asked for the introduction of the zone to be postpone, giving people more time to adjust to the new requirements and get additional support. He’d also like motorhomes, campervans, and horseboxes to be exempt from the charge. In response, an initial delay has been granted, with a revised plan and timeline due to be submitted to the Government in July 2022.