The Government Rejects Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone
You
don’t need to be a genius to understand that the implementation of
our old friend, a clean air zone is both complex and expensive. It’s
one of those contradictory situations. Yes, we all know that reducing
noxious emissions is an environmental and social imperative, but that
doesn’t mean measures to clean up the air in our towns and cities
are especially popular.
The
development of CAZ legislation and the infrastructure involved is an
immense undertaking. And it’s not cheap. Now it seems Greater Manchester’s proposals to implement a CAZ have not found universal
favour with Central Government. It’s said the road to Hell is paved
with good intentions, but it’s always the cash that’s the final
leveller. Especially re the development of a CAZ scheme.
Credit
Where It’s Due
When
in March 2019 GMCA put their CAZ proposal to the government, it
included a request for £116m in additional funding. The cash is
required to help GM businesses make the transition to CAZ compliant
vehicles supported by an extensive network of charging points.
Interestingly, the proposal also sought to exclude imposing the clean
air levy on vans until 2023.
In
parallel, GMCA started a public consultation to develop an
understanding of the perceived impact a CAZ would have on GM
businesses. From that point of view, it’s fair to say that there
has been some effort to take the sting out of the CAZ for GM
businesses and residents. Let’s give the GMCA a little credit for
that.
And
When They Got There
The
cupboard was bare. Or maybe not as well laden as required.
Environmental Minister Therese Coffey offered GM an initial £36m
along with some unwelcome conditions for further funding. These
include bringing forward the date for the inclusion of vans into the
GM CAZ to 2021.
Further
criticism of GM’s approach came from environmental lawyers
ClientEarth, who highlighted the authority’s decision to exclude
cars from its CAZ proposals.
In
response, GM’s Green City-region lead Cllr Andrew Western
commented: ‘We don’t want people who have no choice but to stick
with their polluting vehicle in the short term paying a daily
penalty. But, by demanding that Greater Manchester bring forward the
implementation of a Clean Air Zone affecting non-compliant vans by
two years, that’s exactly what the ministerial instruction would
do. It’s counter-productive.’
“Play
Fair On Clean Air”
Naturally,
the government’s response was received with some dismay. GM Mayor
Andy Burnham pointed out the risks of an underfunded CAZ scheme:
‘…it
would be unfair to ask Greater Manchester to do this alone and to
fund the change by fines on small businesses. Taxi drivers in the
city have been calling on us to “play fair on clean air”. We hear
that call and want to help people switch. We don’t want to see a
single job or business threatened by the process of cleaning up our
air. But we can’t guarantee this without help from the government.’
What
is clear is that there is plenty of water to flow under this
particular CAZ bridge and the issues won’t be confined just to
Manchester. There is an increasing number of other UK cities
considering CAZ schemes and their requests for government funding are
likely to experience the same issues.
Plan
Ahead
The
arguments will no doubt rage on, but the issue won’t be going away.
One way or another CAZ schemes will be implemented in UK towns and
cities. The best advice we can offer is to plan ahead. Make strategic
investments in CAZ-friendly vehicles like Truckcraft’s TRAILAR
enabled vehicles. Not only will they help you avoid
emissions-related fines, but they’ll also reduce your fuel
consumption and running costs too.
Best
of all, with our trucks, you won’t be running around searching for
a charging point which will no doubt be in use when you arrive.
For more information on our CAZ-friendly delivery trucks and vans, please contact the Truckcraft Bodies sales team on 0161 304 9404. Alternatively, email glen.pinder@truckcraftbodies.co.uk or emma.jane@truckcraftbodies.co.uk.
Published: Aug 05