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'An alternative needs to be explored': Boris Johnson calls for Clean Air Zone rethink
04.02.2022 - 00:42 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Boris Johnson says he wants to see plans for Greater Manchester's Clean Air Zone put on hold to avoid 'stuffing up businesses'.
During a visit to Middleton this afternoon (February 3), the Prime Minister told the Manchester Evening News an announcement on the contentious charging scheme's future would be made by government 'very soon'.
It comes on a day which has seen hundreds of taxi drivers protest against the proposals, while mayor Andy Burnham has urged the government to 'take the politics out' of the situation and work together on a solution.
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While saying he did not 'want to preempt' any decision the government makes about the Clean Air Zone, which in its current guise would see the most polluting vehicles pay £60 a day, Mr Johnson admitted the plans must be reconsidered.
He said: "They're good in the sense that you need ways of reducing emissions, but if you're going to do something like a Clean Air Zone, you've got to time it right.
"You can't put it in, in a way that is going to crush business - particularly small business - making it impossible for people to use their vans, for white vans to be able to get into the town or city centre. And you can't penalise people in such a way to do serious economic harm.
"Our view is that the way it's being framed at the moment in Greater Manchester is not getting the balance right. We think it will be economically damaging and we think that an alternative model needs to be explored.
"I think there should be a moratorium and I think our minister is going to have a look at it."
Asked how quickly Greater Manchester could expect an announcement, Mr Johnson said it would come 'very soon'.
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