First-of-its-kind research on air pollution has revealed that the proposed introduction of an extensive Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Manchester would deliver “significant health and economic benefits”.
In 2019, 8% of hospital admissions and 15% of all deaths in Manchester were due to respiratory conditions as the underlying cause, but by reducing dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in key areas, the city stands to gain more than others – including Bristol and Liverpool – due to the wider scope of its CAZ.
Last year, analysis by CBI Economics – which was commissioned by the Clean Air Fund – found that the UK economy could benefit to the tune of £1.6 billion each year if it were to achieve the guidelines set by the WHO for ‘safe’ air quality, and this latest study from the same organisations now shows that the economic benefits that CAZ programme could deliver for key UK cities including Manchester.
Manchester is one of several cities due to implement a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) as part of its response to the UK government’s air quality plan – which requires local authorities to develop a strategy for reducing NO2.
Despite failing to include restrictions for private cars, the city has already gone further than the government stipulates by expanding the target zone to include the full Greater Manchester region, and this new research now suggests that this will “substantially increase economic and health benefits to the city overall” and spread them across a wider area.
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By also requiring older and more-polluting commercial vehicles to pay to drive through the region’s full administrative boundary, except for strategic roads and motorways, this would reduce nitrogen dioxide levels by significantly more than the average CAZ – which tends to focus on smaller areas in a city centre – and could help to prevent a minimum 160 deaths each year, and save 350 days spent in hospital due solely to NO2 exposure.
This represents around 1% of all Manchester’s deaths, and 4% of deaths associated with respiratory conditions.
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The increased days in work and lives saved would inject at least £7.1 million into Manchester’s economy, compared to the £1.5 million projected gain from Liverpool’s CAZ, or £1 million in Bristol.
“For the first time, these numbers give hard evidence that the Clean Air Zone would make Manchester richer and healthier, with its widened focus spreading these benefits across the whole city.” said Jane Burston, Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund.
“This shows the benefits of joined-up thinking on business and health as we build back better.
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“The council’s positive vision for clean air is hugely welcome [and] it needs to quickly implement these measures to lock in its own economic and public health gains and show what is possible elsewhere”.
Damian Waters – North West Director at CBI – added: “Cleaner air within our major cities is an aspiration not only central to improving public health, but also a business-critical issue for firms in Manchester [as] congested city streets are all too common a sight, slowing business operations and ultimately putting people’s health at risk.
“The loss of working hours in Manchester alone runs into the hundreds of thousands.
“Building Back Better must have a green thread running through the very middle of it, [and] that means working together towards reaching our net zero targets and making the most of the economic benefits from lowering air pollution in urban areas”.
Public Health England estimates that between 2017 and 2025, the total cost to the NHS and social care system due to NO2 alone will reach £61 million.
You can find more information via the Clean Air Greater Manchester website here.
Manchester
Popular night-time indie shopping market returns to Manchester tomorrow
Emily Sergeant
A unique indie shopping market is returning to Manchester, and you’ll be able to shop from 50 local small businesses all under one roof.
In case you hadn’t heard, the hugely-popular Night Market UK is back by popular demand, and it will be stopping off in our city centre for one night only tomorrow as part of the current leg of its tour across the country.
Returning to Manchester, but this time at a new location down at Fairfield Social Club in the Green Quarter, the unique night-time shopping experience will be showcasing more than 50 local small businesses – with everything from bespoke fashion items and beautifully-crafted homeware, to candles, artwork, silverware, and more on offer.
Brutal Fashion, Lost in Music, Urban Botany, and Dapper Alice are just a handful of the indie traders you’ll be able to shop from.
With event organisers promising there’ll be “a stall for everyone” to browse on the night, some of the other traders in attendance, include artisan producers, artists and bakers, as well as Fairfield Social Club’s resident street food purveyors Isit Kitchen, and pizza pros Killa Carbs.
DJ Clara B will also be taking over the club’s sound system too, and will be blasting tunes to set the scene all night long.
From bespoke fashion items and silverware courtesy of Brutal Fashion, to dazzling musical art prints from Lost in Music, and sculptural candles from Urban Botany to beautifully crafted homeware by Dapper Alice, there will be a stall for everyone on the night.
A popular night-time indie shopping market is returning to Manchester tomorrow / Credit: The Night Market UK | Kunal Mahesh Tewari (via The Night Market UK on Facebook)
The Night Market UK will open at Fairfield Social Club from 6pm tomorrow (Friday 26 July), and will run right through until 11pm.
Tickets are now on sale from just £4 each, and can be purchased in hourly entry timeslots – which organisers say “keeps the atmosphere just right” and ensures there’s enough space for everyone to be able to stay as little or as long as they’d like.
You can buy on the door or grab your tickets in advance here.
Featured Image – Supplied
Manchester
Beloved Manc butty shop Bada Bing set for a sensational return to the city centre
Danny Jones
Sandwich lovers rejoice because one of the finest butty shops to ever grace Manchester is returning: that’s right, Bada Bing is bada-back!
The Sopranos-inspired deli and sandwich shop that took its name from one of the central locations featured in the iconic US drama (yes, the strip club), was a huge success when it first opened in Manchester a few short years ago, so it was a huge blow when it closed in February 2022.
Starting out by serving sandwiches out of a window at The B Lounge pub on Paton Street near Piccadilly, before moving to a small kitchen on Radium Street and eventually setting up their stall inside Ancoats General Store, they would regularly have lines around the block every lunchtime.
These Italian-American sarnies were so popular you’d often struggle to get your claws on one – and believe us, they really are a two-handed task – as they’d sell out on what felt like most days. But now, whether you were a regular or someone who missed out, there is hope once again:
Announcing their sensational return to a new site over in the Northern Quarter, which will now mark the fourth premises they’ve popped up at, Bada Bing is back with a bang and, as you can, they dropped the news with one of the best reveal videos we’ve ever seen.
If you know, you know…
Set to take over 125 Oldham Street, owners Sam Gormally and Meg Lingenfelter haven’t yet graced us with an opening date but the new unit should hopefully be open sooner rather than later.
The duo, who previously worked at fellow NQ favourite Another Heart to Feed, came up with the concept during lockdown and it didn’t take long for the idea to take off, nor for them to earn their spot amongst the very best sandwich places in Manchester.
Seriously, these things were so big and unwieldy (in the best way possible) that they even used to come with eating instructions: both hands and the trademark Tony Soprano hunch recommended, though the slightly stained wife-beater, boxer shorts and open dressing gown look is optional.
From slices of provolone cheese, all the thinly sliced Italian meats you could think of and the closest thing to actual ‘gabagool‘ as you’ll find in Greater Manchester, the menu was fitting of being served up to the iconic characters that once sat outside Satriale’s and a big approving grin from the man himself.
Simply put, we cannot wait and we will certainly keep you posted when we find out exactly when Bada Bing confirms their official reopening date.