FSB responds to new Clean Air Zone plan in Greater Manchester

Local News 30 Jun 2022

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) responds to the recent proposals for a new, non-charging, investment led Clean Air Zone by TfGM and GMCA.

FSB Development Manager for Greater Manchester, Robert Downes, said: “These new proposals and the new data set out in it are encouraging. It acknowledges what FSB and others have long maintained, which is that there is a better way of cleaning up the air in our city region and getting us to legal compliance levels without wrecking the economy and destroying businesses.

“This is an alternative, business friendly CAZ that we’ve always called for; one that gets us over the line when it comes to illegally high levels of NOx pollution by using targeted measures in the few areas where there are genuine problems. We already knew these were in parts of Salford and Manchester city centre, and goes to show the original 493 square mile CAZ was the proverbial sledgehammer to crack a nut – a term FSB often used to describe the blunt instrument that it was.”

He added: “It would seem electric buses are now at the heart of the GMCA’s new proposals to reduce pollution, and as this new report also reveals, around 70% of city centre NOx pollution comes from buses, this measure alone should go above and beyond what’s needed to get us where we need to be.

“The new pollution forecasts show even in the ‘do nothing scenario’ – without any measures at all – the number of councils areas in exceedance reduces over time, moving from a GM-wide problem in 2023 to a localised problem from 2025 focussed on a few parts of the city centre. So switching to electric buses should make a huge difference, along with the other measures being proposed.  

“All in all these plans are welcome and we support them. The one caveat now is that the Government has to sign these plans off, but it would be hard to see that not happening if the pollution data stacks up and GM would be, as a city region, NOx compliant well within the 2026 deadline set by George Eustace.” 

Do nothing scenario:

  • By 2024, Oldham, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan are expected to be compliant
  • By 2025, Bolton, Rochdale and Tameside are also expected to be compliant
  • Exceedances remain in Bury, Manchester and Salford in 2025

Media contact

Robert Downes
Development Manager, Greater Manchester
Mob:    0791 7628905
Email: [email protected]


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