Campaigners criticised the approach of the combined authority to clean air as it submitted its alternative to the controversial Clean Air Zone to central government.

The GMCA scrapped a charging scheme for a non-charging scheme which Metro Mayor Andy Burnham and lead for clean air Eamonn O'Brien set out last week.

Mr Burnham and Cllr O'Brien said it is fairer and faster for the region to achieve the legal limit on the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere through the investment of more than £80 million in areas like upgrades to buses and bus depots as well as upgrades to taxis to low-emission vehicles or zero-emission vehicles.

On Wednesday (December 20), the Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee approved the submission of the alternative to the controversial Clean Air Zone to central government for approval. Its vice chair Tracey Rawlins, sitting in for chair Cllr O'Brien due to illness, spoke in support of the proposal.

ALSO READ: Clean Air Zone signs to be removed across Greater Manchester.

Cllr Rawlins said: "Greater Manchester's proposal for an investment-led plan can achieve compliance with the legal limit and this compliance is not achieved under a charging Clean Air Zone. 

"Whilst it is for central government to determine what measures Greater Manchester is to implement the appraisal shows the investment-led plan complies with the requirement placed on the 10 Greater Manchester authorities to deliver compliance in the shortest time or by 2026."

Campaigners criticised the approach of the combined authority in a statement signed by a coalition of organisations such as Clean Cities GM, Walk Ride GM and Friends of the Earth.

Calling for additional action they said the legal limit on the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere is four times the suggested limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

ALSO READ: Clean Air Zone cameras to remain across Greater Manchester.

Pete Abel, of Friends of the Earth, said: "Reaching the legal limit is like celebrating a 40-a-day smoker reducing their intake by a cigarette a day. 

"It is a small step but it is hardly the action for health we need to see."

The Greater Manchester Air Quality Administration Committee did not acknowledge the statement over the course of its meeting.

However its vice chair said the proposal is "only one tool in the toolbox".

Cllr Rawlins said: "This is only one tool in the toolbox in terms of getting to the cleanest air possible.

"The work continues and we need to use the relationships we've been building to work collectively."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.