Greater Manchester’s transport bosses are preparing to submit an updated Clean Air Plan to the Government.
According to Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), the preferred plan set to be submitted would still mean that there would be no charges for any vehicle driven on a road anywhere in n Greater Manchester, as was first suggested back in December 2023, as the alternative plan that proposed a benchmark charging ‘Clean Air Zone’ in the centre of Manchester and bordering parts of Salford would not meet the legal deadline.
On top of this, the revised plan will also crucially include updates to air quality modelling, corrections to modelled emissions of Government-funded retrofitted buses, investment into new buses, and a fund to help taxi drivers upgrade their vehicles.
As mentioned, a key element of the proposed plan is investment in cleaner buses, especially as the latest figures show that improvements to Greater Manchester’s bus fleet is already helping to improve air quality.
🐝 We’ve set out a compelling plan to show how Greater Manchester can meet clean air targets with a non-charging approach, investing in:
🚍 Zero-emission electric buses on our @BeeNetwork 🚕 A Clean Taxi Fund 🚦 Better traffic management
Pollution in the region in 2023 was found to be “significantly lower” than the levels recorded pre-pandemic in 2019.
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Despite having been working at pace to deliver the electrification of bus depots across the region, the revised plan does take into account a delay to a new all-electric depot at Stockport, which is now expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
A total of £86.7 million of Clean Air funding has already been allocated to Greater Manchester, and from this, the revised plan is looking to use £51.1 million.
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This funding would go towards 40 new Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs), depot electrification in Manchester and Bolton, and 77 new Euro VI clean air compliant buses.
Greater Manchester is set to submit a new non-charging Clean Air Plan to the government / Credit: The Manc Group | TfGM
TfGM says that, in the revised plan, there is no change to proposals that would see £30.5 million made available to help owners of all eligible hackney carriage and private hire vehicles to upgrade to a cleaner vehicle.
£5 million will also be invested in local traffic measures to “better manage traffic flow” on Regent Road and Quay Street in the city centre.
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Speaking ahead of the revised plan being submitted to the Government, Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, who is the Clean Air lead for Greater Manchester, said: “Given some of the changes that have occurred in the last nine months, there was a need to adapt and update our proposals for an investment-led, non-charging GM Clean Air Plan.
“We’re now in a position where that work has been done, and, subject to approvals, we can submit our updated plan to the new Government as soon as possible and await their decision.”
Featured Image – rawpixel
Travel & Tourism
The Northern Belle, ‘Britain’s poshest train’, is coming to Manchester, with a seven-course banquet on board
Thomas Melia
A luxury train that’s been dubbed the poshest in Britain is steaming into Manchester this year, offering passengers a chance to sit in the same seats as royalty.
The Northern Belle will set off for its first trip of 2025 from Manchester Victoria, whisking people on a breathtaking journey through the Yorkshire Dales.
Whilst on board the Settle-Carlisle railway line, guests will tuck into a a show-stopping seven course banquet with bottles of champagne and wine.
The steam locomotive is a 1930’s Pullman-style train and used to form part of the iconic Orient Express experience, and takes on its journeys with an on-board live band.
Self-proclaimed as ‘Britain’s poshest train’, this vintage travel vehicle has been known to host a famous face or two, including acting legend Billy Nighy, who described the locomotive as ‘the Grand Dame of luxury travel’.
It’s not just Hollywood A Listers travelling in style – the royals have been known to frequent these four carriage walls.
On board The Northern Belle, which will visit Manchester in March. Credit: Supplied
One of the seven carriages which will be making the journey used to be party of Queen Elizabeth’s Royal Train, and is home to the Queen Mum’s favourite seat, where she would sit and wave through the window while sipping a gin and tonic.
A red carpet will be rolled out at Manchester Victoria to welcome everyone hopping on board this high-class rail service, with tickets from £365.
The Northern Belle departs Manchester city centre around 10am, collecting more passengers from Bolton before cruising some of the UK’s finest countryside.
Dust off your glad rags and get ready to be the ‘Belle’ of the ball as you travel on vintage locomotive The Northern Belle.
This isn’t the only Northern Belle trip running this year as you can make your big and bold entrance to both Royal Ascot and Chelsea Flower Show via this comfortable and certainly not modest rail liner.
Just like its epic decorum, the prices follow the same bold style with tickets varying from £365 upwards depending on which event you’d like to attend.
Arriving on 1 March 2025, this luxury train is making a special stop in Greater Manchester with tickets available to purchase HERE.
Macclesfield Forest – The picture-perfect country walk that looks like a postcard in winter weather
Daisy Jackson
It is absolutely baltic out there – but also pretty beautiful, and we’ve found you a winter walk that looks better than ever at this time of year.
The weather in the UK has well and truly turned wintery, with temperatures dropped below zero and the big coats permanently glued to our backs.
That comes with a lot of bad bits, like being really bloody cold all the time, having to scrape the car every time you use it, and energy bills going through the roof if you want to put your heating on for five seconds.
But also, when you stop and look around on a good day, brilliant blue skies, frost-tipped landscapes, perfect sunsets and crunchy leaves.
This sort of winter weather is actually perfect for a big walk, with no risk of sunburn or sweaty backs, so we say let’s all get wrapped up warm and head on out to the beautiful countryside around our home city.
One of the most stunning sites in the north west is just across the border into Cheshire. We are of course talking about Macclesfield Forest.
Here, huge conifers dominate the landscape like giant Christmas trees – it’s about as close to an alpine wonderland you can get without travelling all the way to actual mountains.
When it snows, the whole forest is muffled. The only sounds you’ll hear is the soft thump of snow falling off the branches.
And if you don’t fancy killing an entire afternoon wandering through the woodland, there are also two reservoirs – Trentabank and Ridgegate to explore.
There are a number of walking trails to follow, from a gently green route all the way to a more challenging red route that takes you deeper into the forest.
If you brave the uphill climbs, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views over the Cat and Fiddle Moors and the Cheshire Plains.
And then you can defrost from your walk in the cosy Leather’s Smithy pub, which dates back to the 18th century and serves proper pub grub and real ales.
Leather’s Smithy, a cosy 18th century pub serving real ales, locally-distilled Forest Gin made from botanicals foraged nearby, and comforting pub grub.
Emily Sergeant -
19th September 2024 
