Air Quality Working Group
New Actions For Greater Manchester
There are a wide range of new actions included in the Greater
Manchester Air Quality Action Plan.
- Speed Regulation
Reducing speed limits on specified routes e.g. motorways and congested
areas can smooth out the traffic flow thus reducing congestion.
Greater Manchester local authorities will encourage the Highways
Agency to identify schemes on motorways and trunk roads where speed
control would improve air quality.
- Examine the feasibility for Low Emission Zones (LEZ)
A LEZ is a geographical area which stops certain vehicles from
entering the area, to try to reduce the amount of exhaust gases being
put into the air - the aim is to improve the quality of the air we
breathe. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) can be used to make an LEZ.
An LEZ can have several different aspects to it, such as:
- Geographic - the boundary of the zone and
the roads it contains;
- Time - the time during which vehicles are
prohibited from the zone, e.g. 24 hours a day, only at peak times,
etc;
- Air quality - set tougher standards for air
quality ;
- Vehicle technology - restrict access to
vehicles with lower emissions e.g. a European Standard;
- Transport - smart options in vehicles to
ensure effective operation of the LEZ.
For more information on low emission zones, click here :
http://www.nsca.org.uk/lez.htm
- Explore the contribution that road user and workplace
parking charging might make to the improvement of air quality.
Any consideration of any such charging schemes will take place in
accordance with the following conditions:
- Full consultation with residents, businesses and other
stakeholders will be carried out
- New high quality alternatives such as Metrolink and Quality Bus
Corridors must be significantly advanced before charges can be
introduced.
A regional approach to charging must be taken to ensure that it does
not harm overall competitiveness and areas introducing charges are not
disadvantaged.
- Road Side Emissions Testing
The local authorities of Greater Manchester have implemented The
Cleaner Vehicles Campaign. This involves a combination of formal and
informal vehicle emissions checks, with fixed penalty notices issued
if vehicles do not meet the emissions standard on formal tests. Click
here to go to the Cleaner Vehicles Campaign website.
- Enforcement of vehicle idling powers
New legislation will make it an offence to leave a vehicle idling
under certain circumstances. Some local authorities will be actively
enforcing these new powers.
- Regulation of taxi emissions
Review the regulation of private hire and hackney emissions, develop
good practice across member local authorities and ensure it is fully
integrated into the taxi licensing regime.
- Real time information on public transport
Greater Manchester local authorities will continue the programme
providing improved information on the time and destination of the next
bus/train to arrive at a stop.
- Raising Public Awareness
Local publicity campaigns to promote awareness on environmental
pollution from vehicles.
- Car Free Days
Supporting promotional campaigns such as "In town without
my car day" will support a general aim to raise awareness of air
quality issues.
- Home zones
A concept where in residential areas road space is shared between all
users, with the needs of the pedestrian being given priority. The
Greater Manchester local authorities will investigate potential
schemes and implement where appropriate.
- Parking Controls
By increasing charges or restricting the number of car parking spaces,
non-town centre residents can be encouraged to find other ways of
accessing the town centre.
- Work from home schemes
Employers encourage workforce to work from home where possible. Such
measures would probably be a part of an overall Travel Plan designed
to reduce work related car-use.
- Raise awareness of the health effects of burning
garden and other waste
Burning waste produces smoke that contains a range of pollutants. In
the case of burning plastics, rubber or painted materials, it not only
creates bad smells but also produces a range of poisonous compounds.
Smoke can have damaging health effects especially for people with
breathing difficulties and can cause nuisance to neighbouring
properties. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 all commercial
operators have a duty of care to ensure that their waste is managed
properly. The burning of commercial waste is considered to be a breach
of this duty of care and can be punishable by fines of upto £ 5000.
The Greater Manchester Local Authorities will promote the message that
the burning of any waste whether commercial or domestic is not
acceptable. A campaign to stop domestic waste burning has commenced
and will be conducted throughout Greater Manchester in 2005 and
beyond.
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