Councillors call for some cars to be charged for driving into Manchester city centre

Labour councillors are calling for cars with high emissions to be charged when driving through Manchester city centre – in contrast to their own party's policy. Manchester councillors Jon-Connor Lyons and Marcus Johns want an ultra-low emissions zone (ULEZ) to be introduced in the city centre to tackle pollution.

It comes as Greater Manchester awaits a decision from the government on the future of the Clean Air Zone which was due to come into force earlier this year. Under the original scheme, the most polluting vans, taxis, lorries, buses and coaches would have faced daily penalties for using the city-region's roads.

But the plans were paused following a public backlash with leaders in Greater Manchester now calling for the scheme to focus on funding vehicle upgrades. Responding to a request to scrap all charges, former environment secretary George Eustice suggested charging certain vehicles in the city centre only.

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However, Labour politicians across Greater Manchester have backed mayor Andy Burnham's latest proposal for a non-charging investment-led scheme. Manchester council supports this proposal – but some councillors from the ruling Labour group believe a ULEZ in the city centre should still go ahead.

They want all through traffic in the city centre with high levels of emissions, including cars, to be charged, with residents living within the ring road exempt. Councillors voted in favour of exploring this proposal and enforcing 20mph speed limits within the city centre at a full council meeting in January 2020.

But the local authority is not looking at implementing a city centre ULEZ now. Coun Lyons supports the move towards helping upgrade