CLIENT EARTH THREATEN MANCHESTER

Environmentalists are warning Greater Manchester could be breaking the law if it pushes ahead with its current plans to improve air quality - arguing leaders are doing too little to meet legal targets.

ClientEarth, the campaign group that has already won three high court judgments against the government on the issue, says there are ‘major flaws’ in the proposals drawn up by the mayor and town halls.

Those would see the dirtiest - mainly diesel - vans and HGVs charged to drive in Greater Manchester, but not private motorists.


The group says that falls short of what is required and would result in councils breaking the law.

Its clean air lawyer Katie Nield said: “Despite the scale of the problem, time and again we are seeing the most timid efforts made by councils to clean up the air. It isn’t good enough.

“All the while, central government is not stepping in to make sure authorities are taking their legal obligations seriously.

 “The courts have made it perfectly clear – people’s health comes first.”

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