Promises of public consultation on revised Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone plans this summer

A public consultation on revised plans for a Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester has been promised by transport bosses in the city-region. The controversial scheme which was due to start in May is currently under review after the government agreed to delay the deadline by which Greater Manchester must lower air pollution below legal limits by two years to 2026.

Mayor Andy Burnham and the 10 council leaders in the city-region now want all charges to be scrapped, but they say more government funding is needed. Local authorities have until July to submit a new Clean Air Zone scheme that achieves air quality compliance by 2026 which the government must agree to.

Transport for Greater Manchester, which has been working on the plans on behalf of the 10 councils, has promised a public consultation will take place. Councils are expected to run their own consultations to seek residents' views.

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Transport strategy director Simon Warburton told councillors on Wednesday (March 23) that people affected by the plans will help shape the new scheme. He said: "With regard to formal consultation, we note that throughout, Greater Manchester has been very keen to ensure that this is a consultative process that we've taken around the development of the plan with a series of stages having previously been undertaken.

"Therefore, we are anticipating that the authorities will seek a further consultation once the new plan has been assembled in its initial form. Proposed arrangements for that is something we would bring forward in June as part of the consideration of that new plan."

The transport boss told the air quality administration committee that the new