Prime Minister ignores calls to scrap Clean Air Zone charges
30.04.2022 - 00:29
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
The Prime Minister has ignored calls to scrap all Clean Air Zone charges in Greater Manchester as he responded to a letter from leaders sent eight weeks ago. Mayor Andy Burnham wrote to Boris Johnson on March 3 saying that the Labour leaders of the city-region want a non-charging scheme instead – and Bolton's Conservative leader Martyn Cox also supported the suggestion.
It came after the controversial scheme which was set to start charging some commercial vehicles which exceed air quality standards in May was paused. In his letter, Mr Burnham said the delay means air quality compliance can be achieved without charges, but by offering funding to upgrade vehicles instead.
This followed comments by the Prime Minister in Parliament in which he described the Clean Air Zone as 'thoughtless' and said it should be scrapped. However, responding to the mayor's letter eight weeks later, Mr Johnson did not address the Greater Manchester leaders' calls for a non-charging scheme.
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In the letter to Mr Burnham, the Prime Minister wrote: "Thank you for your letter of 3 March about the Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ). I am aware that Greater Manchester's CAZ plans are now under review, following discussions with the Environment Secretary and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State.
"Our officials remain ready to engage constructively with yours to deliver the right plans for Greater Manchester. Thank you, once again for writing."
Mr Burnham said he was 'shocked' to receive the letter a week before the local elections. He said: "The Prime Minster told the House of Commons he would scrap the Clean Air Zone and now in a letter to me he's refusing to
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