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Liverpool City Council rejects clean air congestion charge

News imageBBC aerial view of Liverpool trafficBBC
Vehicles will now not be charged for using roads within a clean air zone in Liverpool city centre

Plans for a clean air congestion charge in Liverpool city centre have been thrown out by councillors.

The Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges plan has been rejected over fears it would be too pricey for drivers and not as effective as first thought.

Problems over the scheme in Greater Manchester were also highlighted.

Fresh proposals include new use of traffic lights to ease congestion and penalising drivers who leave their engines idling while stationary.

Bus stop locations will also be reviewed.

The council said forecast upgrades on polluting vehicles also reduced the need for the charges.

News imagePeter Byrne/PA Wire Royal Liver BuildingPeter Byrne/PA Wire
Liverpool City Council had originally planned to roll out the charging zone in 2025

The cabinet's new Clean Air Plan will be sent to the government next month with a full business case being submitted in January 2023.

If it is accepted, the measures will take effect from 2023.

News imagePA Media car driven into congestion charge zonePA Media
Congestion charges are already in place in London (above) and Bath

Councillor Daniel Barrington, environment cabinet member, says "it's vital that we see improvements to air quality" and "I want us to do this in the quickest way possible".

"We are now looking at more ambitious and focused measures" which could be "rolled out more quickly and effectively than a charging CAZ", he added.

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