The Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester has been canceled, leaving over 1,300 signs in limbo. Local leaders are now deciding what to do with these signs and related infrastructure.
Greater Manchester: More than 1,300 signs are coming down now that the Clean Air Zone is canceled. This scheme was supposed to charge vehicles that didn’t meet emissions standards.
Last week, the government decided to scrap the charges. Instead, they’ll use the funds for other projects aimed at cleaning the air faster.
Local leaders pushed for a plan that focuses on grants to upgrade vehicles. They also wanted to reduce traffic and improve bus services. This new approach is expected to be more effective.
About £86 million set aside for the Clean Air Zone will now fund these new initiatives. This includes over £51 million for cleaner buses and £8 million for taxis.
However, there’s still a chunk of money, around £21.9 million, that will go toward managing the old scheme. Last year, nearly £100 million was already spent on the Clean Air Zone, including signs and cameras.
Local leaders can now review and cancel contracts related to the Clean Air Zone. This means the 1,309 signs that were put up can finally be taken down.
Interestingly, transport officials are considering if these signs can be repurposed instead of just tossed. Meanwhile, the 407 cameras installed for the zone might stay up. They could be handed over to the police, who have been using them for crime-solving.
Police chiefs have shown interest in taking control of the cameras. Since they’re no longer needed for the Clean Air Zone, this transfer could happen soon. But first, they need to consult on how to use the cameras moving forward.
It’s worth noting that keeping the cameras operational costs about £375,000 a month. Initially, these costs were to be covered by the charges, but now the government will handle them.
