A clean air 'charging scheme' will only be imposed on Bolton if the national government forces it through,  Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has said.

Addressing a public meeting in the town to mark the launch of the Bee Network the Mayor of Greater Manchester pledged not to impose any kind of charges.

This came as he took a range of questions from members of the public at the University of Bolton.

Mr Burnham said: “We’re not going for a charging scheme and that will apply after the election.”

He added: “We would only do it if we had no choice because it was imposed on us from central.”

The Bolton News: Andy Burnham took questions at an event at the University of BoltonAndy Burnham took questions at an event at the University of Bolton (Image: Newsquest)

Plans for a Clean Air Zone across Greater Manchester were abandoned following widespread opposition and debates.

But he accepted that Clean Air Zone signs were still up around various locations across Bolton because the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, which Mr Burnham heads, does not have the authority to take them down.

Up to 92 Clean Air Zone signs had been installed around the borough, suggesting a cost of around £92,000 for Bolton alone.

Across the whole of Greater Manchester, the cost of installing these signs is believed to be around £1,309,316.

In some cases signs have been defaced, apparently by opponents of the scheme.

At the meeting in Bolton, Mr Burnham took the opportunity to call for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to authorise the signs to be taken down.

But he also pointed out the some of the cameras could be used to help solve serious crimes.

Mr Burnham said: “The camera infrastructure, I want that to be transferred jointly to TfGM and Greater Manchester Police.”

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But he said that he believed there were better ways of helping the environment than a charging zone.

Mr Burnham said: “If you fund public transport properly that is a better route to clean air than this Clean Air Zone.”

He argued that a better bus system would mean fewer cars on the road and that the newer Bee Network vehicles were designed to be more environmentally friendly.

Mr Burnham said that 52 new buses would be introduced over the next few months.