CLEAN air zone plans for Trafford and Greater Manchester have gone out to public consultation.

Council bosses claim the scheme will reduce harmful air pollution and introduce minimum standards for taxis and private hire cars.

But the taxi trade insists moves to convert their cabs, by 2024, to tackle nitrogen dioxide emissions will cause some firms to fold.

The public consultation exercise runs online at cleanair.gm or those interested can call 0161 244 1100.

Cllr Andrew Western, council leader and green lead for the city region, said new funding was vital to make the clean air plans viable.

He added: "The post-lockdown recovery is extremely important to Trafford and the rest of Greater Manchester and our Clean Air Plan plays an important role in this.

"It is vital that we give our commercial vehicles, bus operators, hackney carriage and private hire drivers access to funding to move to a more modern, cleaner fleet that will help us all.

"It is important that we make Trafford and our city-region a cleaner, greener place for the future. This plan will impact all of our lives, so let’s clean up our air, roads and communities together.”

Sara Todd, council chief executiv and Greater Manchester chief officer lead on taxis and private hire, added: “We all know the importance of taxis and private hire vehicles and how they play a crucial role in keeping Trafford and the rest of Greater Manchester moving day in, day out.

"At the moment there are different standards for taxi and private hire services across Greater Manchester and we have worked with the trade to develop a proposed set of minimum standards for all services licensed locally.

"This will, of course, help ensure that all journeys are safe and reliable. Please take part in the consultation – we want the views of everyone to be heard so that we can make sure we get this right.”

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford's environment cabinet member, added: "We want Trafford to be clean, green safe and ultimately carbon neutral.

"The council is passionate in its support for the clean air proposals and minimum standards for all taxi services licensed.

"I would urge everyone to take part in both the Greater Manchester consultations and Trafford Council's own consultation to do their bit to shape the green future of the borough of Trafford and the rest of Greater Manchester.”