Campaigners are calling for action after 'endless delays'
Pollution levels were still too high in 64 places across Greater Manchester last year and are set to stay above legal limits until 2026.
But the date was subsequently pushed back following a public backlash to the Clean Air Zone. A new ministerial direction issued in February 2022 requires the 10 local authorities to comply with legal limits on air quality as soon as possible, and no later than 2026. Most of the locations where NO2 levels were found to be above the legal limit were in Manchester city centre. However, air quality monitoring diffusion tubes recorded exceedances of NO2 levels in almost every borough across Greater Manchester during 2023.
Most of these sites are in and around the city centre, with one near Bury town centre and another on the A6 corridor to Stockport. "This latest delay clearly shows that air quality is not being taken seriously in the city region. The data shows that locations across GM continue to break the legal limit for the toxic pollutant nitrogen dioxide, a limit which is itself four times higher than World Health Organization guidelines.
"Bus electrification is not enough to meet the challenge and there is plenty of evidence from other cities on what else is needed - such as limiting the most polluting vehicles in the city centre, giving buses more priority on our roads and delivering far better walking and cycling routes. When the cost of inaction is so serious, further delay cannot be an option."
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