Oldham’s Liberal Democrats are calling for the government to support a no charging Clean Air Zone as new plans emerge for the next phases of CAZ today. 

Liberal Democrat Leader and Shaw councillor Howard Sykes said, “Common sense has finally prevailed on the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.  We welcome the proposals for a no charging Clean Air Zone.  The government must not impose charges on Greater Manchester that would hurt jobs during the cost-of-living crisis.” 

Councillor Sykes also said that the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Andy Burnham had questions to answer.

Councillor Sykes said, “Why has it taken so long to get to this stage?  It was clear that a no charging zone was the common sense approach from the outset.  So why has Mayor Burnham spent time and money plastering Greater Manchester with signage and having reports written that tell us what should have ben plainly obvious at the start of this process?  The Conservative Government need to back these plans and not re-introducing charging.”