'What are they for?' - FOUR HUNDRED Clean Air Zone cameras remain in place across Greater Manchester

Councillors have demanded full transparency over how hundreds of mothballed number plate recognition cameras installed under the Clean Air Zone plans will be used in future.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat opposition group in Oldham, councillor Howard Sykes, said there should be a public consultation on their purpose, as well as scrutiny from elected members of all parties. “The future usage of these cameras must not be decided in a back room somewhere,” he told members at a full council meeting.

More than 400 ANPR cameras were erected ahead of the planned implementation of the charging zone in May last year, which was then delayed and the future of which is still uncertain.

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The project, known as ‘CAZ’ would have seen some of the most polluting vehicles on the city-region’s roads charged daily to travel to tackle illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Police can access information and images from the cameras which has already provided evidence in five murder cases, six gun incidents, two stabbings, four fatal crashes amongst others. However currently officers need to request permission from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to get hold of the information, which GMP says adds a level of bureaucracy to investigations.

“One thing that should concern us in Oldham is the use of the cameras that have been put up across our borough and elsewhere in the conurbation for the enforcement of the original clean air zone,” Coun Sykes said.

“These cameras are no longer needed for their original purpose. So, what will they be used for? Are they going to be turned over to Greater Manchester Police? Is there going to be any public