News
Andy Burnham releases plans for non-charging Clean Air Zone in Greater Manchester
A proposal for a non-charging Clean Air Plan has been released
‘Compelling’ plans for a Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone that won’t charge motorists are being prepared to be submitted.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has now published an outline for the proposal on its website.
The Clean Air Zones (CAZ) are already in operation across the country, including in London, Birmingham and Bristol, and are in place to improve air quality by cutting emissions. The zones issue charges for motorists entering them if their vehicle doesn’t meet emissions standards.
The zones are signposted and have an image of a cloud with a ‘D’ inside. You can also check on an up-to-date or online map if you entered a CAZ. Motorists can pre-pay or have up to six days to pay the charge after driving through one, or face a hefty fine.
Greater Manchester’s CAZ was originally going to hand motorists up to £60 charges when entering a zone, for some of the most polluting vehicles.
However, the scheme was put on hold and referred back to the government for ‘urgent review’ back in January 2022.
Boris Johnson, who was Prime Minister at the time, decided the scheme was ‘completely unworkable’ for the region and so the government put a hold on the plans.
GMCA decided to set out evidence supporting an investment-led, non-charging CAZ back in June 2022, saying it was the ‘best solution’ that would still address the issue of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution.
The new non-charging proposal aims to cut air pollution in the region to within legal limits by a 2026 deadline.
Plans have been shared with the public ahead of the report being submitted to the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee – which will meet with the government on December 20th.
After the plans are submitted, a decision over whether it will move forward will be made by the government. Mr Burnham said modelling had shown that ‘only the investment-led plan’ could meet the legal pollution target by 2026, rather than a charging zone.
The investment plan means more emissions would be cut by spending £86m on electric buses, taxi upgrades and traffic measures on some roads in the centre of Manchester and Salford – by building on the launch of the new Bee Network, and using clean air funding already awarded by the government.
Mr Burnham explained that ‘cleaning up the air that people breathe is a priority for Greater Manchester’ that has already begun with the introduction of the Bee Network and he stressed that the new plans would clean up Greater Manchester’s air quality ‘without causing hardship to our residents or businesses’.
“By accelerating investment in the Bee Network to create a London-style integrated public transport network, and upgrading GM-licensed taxis, we can improve air quality faster than if we introduced a Clean Air Zone,” he said.
“I’d also ask the Government to urgently consider allowing Greater Manchester local authorities to remove charging Clean Air Zone signs.
“Modelling shows that only Greater Manchester’s investment-led plan can meet the legal test placed on the 10 councils to deliver compliance in the shortest possible time and by 2026 at the latest.”
GMCA says once it’s had full formal government feedback on the proposed Clean Air Plan, it will ‘consider timescales’ for a public consultation for local residents to have their say.
To find out more about the GMCA’s plans, click HERE.
News
Oasis announce huge reunion tour as Liam and Noel Gallagher ‘make peace’
The news we’ve all been waiting for!
After years of will-they-won’t-they speculation, Oasis are officially BACK together for a reunion tour.
The Gallagher brothers have put aside their differences in the name of music, making thousands of fans extremely happy in the process.
The band teased the news on their socials over the weekend, posting a video on Sunday morning with today’s date (Tuesday, August 27th) and the time 8am.
And now shows have been announced for multiple dates in the UK and Ireland, with tickets going live this Saturday, August 31st.
The legendary Mancunian rockers will take to the stage next summer, with gigs in Cardiff, London, Edinburgh, Dublin and, of course, Manchester.
15 years after splitting, the band confirmed they would be back for 14 shows, saying: “The guns have fallen silent. The stars have aligned. The great wait is over. Come see. It will not be televised”.
The gigs will be Oasis’s ‘only shows in Europe next year’, with tickets on sale this Saturday at 8am in Ireland and 9am in the UK.
The Oasis 2025 tour dates in full:
July
4th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
5th – Cardiff, Principality Stadium
11th – Manchester, Heaton Park
12th – Manchester, Heaton Park
19th – Manchester, Heaton Park
20th – Manchester, Heaton Park
25th – London, Wembley Stadium
26th – London, Wembley Stadium
August
2nd – London, Wembley Stadium
3rd – London, Wembley Stadium
8th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
9th – Edinburgh, Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium
16th – Dublin, Croke Park
17th – Dublin, Croke Park
You can grab your tickets HERE.
News
Stagecoach hiring over 100 new bus drivers for Bee Network with £31k salaries
Fancy a career change?
Stagecoach Manchester is hiring over 100 new bus drivers to work from its Oldham depot, following the second phase of the Bee Network launch in March.
You can apply for a range of roles, from positions with no experience required to fully qualified bus drivers.
Successful applicants will receive full training as part of the job, and trainees will get paid to train. Then after only 12 months’ service at Stagecoach, drivers can expect to earn up to £16 per hour, which equates to £31.6K per year, before overtime.
As well as that, drivers that already hold a PCV licence may be eligible to receive a £1,200 joining bonus.
Stagecoach
There’s also a host of other benefits available to all Stagecoach employees, like 28 days paid holiday, generous pension and free Stagecoach bus travel for successful applicants and a companion.
Rob Jones, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester said: “Expanding our offering in Oldham means we’ll be investing more in the economy and supporting our local community, as well as strengthening our workforce.
“Whether you’re looking for a career change or you’re a fully qualified, experienced bus driver, there’s a role for everyone here in Oldham.
“We’re looking for personable and dedicated drivers who are ready to help us build on the success of the Bee Network and connect the people of Oldham and Greater Manchester with the places and people that are important to them.”
Stagecoach
Phil Cornwall, bus driver at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “I’ve been a driver at Stagecoach for 25 years and I couldn’t recommend it more.
“From the perks to the people to the passengers, it really is a great place to work.”
To apply, head to the Stagecoach website HERE.
Two men have now been charged with murder, following the discovery of a human torso in Kersal Dale.
As well as that, more suspected human remains were also discovered this morning, Monday April 29th, in an alleyway close to the railway lines off Worsley Road, Eccles.
This follows earlier discoveries of human remains over the past three weeks, at Kersal Dale, Blackleach Reservoir and Colliery Wood, all in Salford.
Greater Manchester Police
Michal Jaroslaw Polchowski (25/04/1956) and Marcin Majerkiewicz (10/04/1982) both of Worsley Road, Eccles, have been charged with murder.
They are set to appear at Tameside Magistrates Court this afternoon.
While formal identification is still ongoing, the remains found at Kersal Dale are believed to be of a local man in his 60s. The remains found at the other three locations are still to be tested, but police are confident they belong to the same victim.
ACC Sarah Jackson said: “We have had large numbers of officers, staff and specialists working diligently on this investigation over the last three weeks. It has been very much a large, collective effort, with the victim and family at the heart of it from the outset.
“We have specially trained officers deployed to support the family as they come to terms with this tragic news. They are aware of this morning’s further discovery and will continue to be kept up to date with how we are progressing.
“Despite the charges brought today, our work is far from over.
“The scenes we already have established in Bury and Salford will remain in place for much of this week whilst our searches and enquiries continue. Local officers will continue to patrol the impacted areas to provide reassurance.
“We will continue following every line of enquiry to recover and reunite the victim with his family, bringing a dignified end to this terrible scenario.
“I’d like to thank the communities of Salford and beyond for their cooperation throughout this investigation. I know this incident has come as a shock, and the support we’ve had from those in the area is very much appreciated.”
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