If you travel from High Peak into Greater Manchester you may see signs and enforcement cameras being installed as the area gets ready for the introduction of the Clean Air Zone which is set to come into force next year.
From 30 May 2022, commercial vehicles including vans, HGVs, hackney cabs, private hire vehicles, buses, coaches and some specialist vehicles that don’t meet emission standards will pay a daily charge to drive in the Zone.
Private car, motorbikes and mopeds are not included in the scheme and will not have to pay the charge.
Here in High Peak, the Borough Council wants to help raise awareness of the proposals – which are aimed at improving health by reducing air pollution from commercial road traffic – amongst residents and businesses.
Council Leader, Councillor Anthony Mckeown, said: “Whilst the planned charging Zone itself covers Greater Manchester, it will affect High Peak residents too with recent updates to the scheme confirming that all roads from the High Peak into Greater Manchester will be covered by the scheme.
“Although people will start to see the signs and cameras being installed in readiness for the start of the scheme, High Peak residents who drive private cars, motorbikes and mopeds don’t need to worry – the charging scheme will only apply to commercial vehicles.”
The Zone will operate all day every day and includes most local roads in Greater Manchester with the exception of motorways.
Ahead of its introduction, local businesses are being urged to check if their commercial vehicles meet the clean air standards by checking their registration online at https://cleanairgm.com/clean-air-plans/#vehicle-checker
Councillor Mckeown added: “At the moment, and despite lobbying by ourselves and the highway authority Derbyshire County Council, there is no funding available to help High Peak businesses, other than bus operators who work across the border, to upgrade their vehicles.
“We would be keen to hear from businesses who may be affected and who are worried about their overheads. You can email regeneration@highpeak.gov.uk if you think this applies to you.”
Find out more about the Clean Air Zone and proposals at https://cleanairgm.com/
