VAN, wagon and lorry drivers have been warned to begin preparing now for a potential ‘pollution charge’.

The fee could be part of the GMCA’s Clean Air Plan, which penalises drivers of vehicles that surpass pollution levels.

This mostly includes diesel and commercial vehicles and is part of an ongoing effort in the region to reduce roadside air pollution on roads like St Peter’s Way, Trinity Street and Chorley Old Road.

But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) says the charge will be “huge” and Bolton Council's leader Linda Thomas says the authority is yet to commit to the new policy.

She said: "Everyone wants clean air - nobody disputes this - but it’s how we get to that point which I am arguing is a massive undertaking and one that can not be solely carried by us. We aren’t standing still and understand the urgency. There has been a constant decrease in emissions from the council's own fleet of vehicles since including more ‘green’ vehicles which we started in 2014. It shows that being forward thinking, being realistic, collaborating and with the right support we can all breath a bit cleaner in the near future.

"There are those - traders included - who are driving older cars, but the government just needs to use a bit of common sense and ask: if you could comfortably afford a new car, wouldn’t you get one?"

She added: “These conversations are ongoing but I won’t support Bolton being burdened without help - that is a reasonable expectation.”

Phil Thompson is the owner of Key Control Security, based in Sunset Business Park, Kearsley, and was recently elected area leader of the FSB.

He said: “FSB will be lobbying hard to make sure the Combined Authority and TfGM implement this sensibly and in a time frame that is acceptable to small firms, the group who actually stand to be the hardest hit by this project.

“My concern is very few businesses are even aware this is coming and the financial implications.

“My message on this is simple, if you are a business in Greater Manchester and you use a diesel, commercial vehicle, start planning now.

“Don’t wait until the first penalty lands on your doormat.”

Including those in Bolton, the GMCA has identified 152 streets throughout Greater Manchester which either already exceed the government’s recommendations for safe levels of pollution, or will do so by 2020, based on the amount of nitrogen dioxide in the air.