An environmental group has hit out against Greater Manchester’s new clean air zone plan.
Manchester Friends of the Earth has criticised the plans for not going far enough to tackle the issue of air pollution.
This comes after the Government confirmed drivers in Greater Manchester will not face additional charges.
Manchester Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Catherine Thomson said: “Air pollution is a public health emergency.”
Earlier this month, the transport minister revealed the Government had no plans to enforce clean air zones, as Mayor Andy Burnham called for Manchester to ‘take down the signs‘.
He said: “We are grateful to this Government for listening to Greater Manchester and for this vote of confidence in our investment-led approach to cleaning up our air.
“This is the right decision for Greater Manchester and it gives people here the certainty they have long needed.”
Thomas said: “Legal limits are not safe limits – we need a much more ambitious Clean Air Plan that will honour Greater Manchester’s pledge to meet World Health Organisation air quality levels by 2030.”
The decision to rule out the clean air zone has meant there will be an introduction of traffic-calming measures and new buses to improve air quality in the region.
Air Quality Minister Emma Hardy said: “I am pleased that Greater Manchester has found a clear way to reduce emissions without the need to charge motorists.”
The new scheme means the area is set to benefit instead from 117 new lower and zero-emission buses.
She said: “Air pollution is damaging people’s health and the environment. Its impacts are felt more by low-income communities, making health and social inequalities worse”
However, Friends of the Earth do not believe this goes far enough.
Thomas said: “We know that toxic Nitrogen Dioxide causes untold damage to the lungs of our children.
“A child born in 2017 – when the Government was instructed to reduce air pollution in the shortest time possible – will be 10 years old before Greater Manchester plans to reach the legal limits.”
Featured image: picture provided by 45154james on Wikimedia under Creative Commons
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