THE city region’s clean air zone plan should have the borough's support even though the council is not under the same spotlight as its neighbours, its leader has said.

Proposals to charge high-polluting commercial vehicles to help cut levels of lethal nitrogen dioxide were revealed by the mayor last month.

The clean air zone (CAZ) would be largest outside of London, bosses have said, and an outline business case will require the backing of all GM local authorities.

Eight out of 10 councils are under a ministerial direction to take urgent action because of poor air quality.

Although Wigan is one of the exceptions, leader David Molyneux has said there has to be collective responsibility to tackle what is a "major health issue".

“As part of our recent Deal 2030 big listening event, many of our residents and young people said they want to see a greener borough with less pollution,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We have to tackle this collectively and I support the development of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Plan.”

Pollution level projections by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) say three sites around Wigan town centre – King Street West, Darlington Street and Warrington Road – will be over the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide pollution from 2020 if urgent action is not taken.

And this could prompt the town hall coming under the same directive from central government as its GM counterparts.

The same TfGM modelling also highlights several stretches of road across the borough that would be close to the legal limit, including Central Park Way, River Way, Scholes, Queen Street, Caroline Street in Wigan, Orrell Road in Orrell and Warrington Road in Platt Bridge.

Under the CAZ plans, which will be subject to public consultation later this year, high-polluting buses, lorries and taxis will face daily charges from 2021. Vans will be subject to the same fees from 2023.

Buses and lorries would be expected to pay £100 per day, with taxis and vans facing a £7.50 fee.

Andy Burnham, the GM mayor, compared the debate on the city region’s air pollution problems to the ban on smoking in public places insisting there is a realisation "we can’t carry on like this".

And the proposals are reliant on central government agreeing to a financial support package of more than £100m for upgrade schemes.

Cllr Molyneux added: “The legal responsibility for complying with NO2 limits lies with councils so doing nothing is not an option.

“Regularly testing the most congested locations in Wigan borough is part of our responsibility to monitor air quality and helps inform our policy decisions.

“The public will be fully consulted prior to any measures being introduced.”

Combined authority bosses say the proposals will see the city region meet clean air targets by 2024.

However, they have attracted criticism, particularly from bus companies, with one saying the CAZ charges will impose a "stealth tax" on passengers.

The clean air plans will be discussed by Wigan’s cabinet on March 21.