Greater Manchester's air pollution problem could be more than 10 times worse than previously thought according to a new report.
Last year the Government’s air pollution model identified just 11 locations in Greater Manchester, that are expected to contravene nitrogen dioxide (NO2) limits beyond 2020.
However the combined authority has still refused to consider a congestion charger for the city despite admitting the major public health risk caused by pollution.
However according to a new report to be considered by Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) on Friday 26 October the true figure is 152 stretches of road will be in breach unless action is taken.
The report sets out progress on the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.
Transport for Greater Manchester has announced that a new Greater Manchester public health campaign and air quality website – www.CleanAirGM.com – will raise awareness of the serious impacts of air pollution and show how it can be tackled. It will also give updates on the air quality plan.
Greater Manchester is one of dozens of areas in the UK instructed by Government to put forward proposals to tackle NO2 air pollution on local roads as soon as possible.
All 10 Greater Manchester councils are developing a single Clean Air Plan to reduce NO2 in close collaboration with Public Health England and the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU).
Cllr Alex Ganotis, GMCA Green City Region Lead, said: 'Nitrogen dioxide is an invisible killer. We mustn’t lose sight of the fact this is a looming public health crisis which needs urgent national action. We’re calling on Government to give Greater Manchester the tools we need to tackle the problem together – this means a local vehicle scrappage scheme and funding for cleaner engines for buses and taxis.
'In developing our Clean Air Plan, Greater Manchester is following a strictly defined process set out by Government to run feasibility studies on potential NO2 air pollution compliance measures.
'I want to be clear that a congestion charge is not being considered as part of this process. But we do have to consider how we ensure that dirty vehicles are not polluting our air. This is a major public health problem for Greater Manchester.
'Government must also act to make sure Highways England, which runs the motorway network around Greater Manchester, tackles air pollution on and near our motorways.'
Possible measures shortlisted by Greater Manchester in March 2018 as part of this process include: increasing public transport capacity;
- upgrading or retrofitting the public transport fleet to run on cleaner engines;
- increasing the use of electric vehicles through expanding the electric charging point network or financial incentives;
- better traffic management; encouraging use of alternative fuels;
- expanding and improving cycling and walking infrastructure;
- and potentially introducing Clean Air Zones, where the most polluting vehicles may attract a penalty payment if they are driven into certain designated areas.
Greater Manchester’s preferred package of measures is required by Government to tackle the problem at least as quickly as a charge-based Clean Air Zone could, for the same or lower cost.
No decisions have yet been made about the potential options for tackling air pollution.
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