'It’s a complete con!': More than 100 taxis stage Clean Air Zone protests across Greater Manchester

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Nearly 150 taxis across Manchester and Salford staged a two-pronged protest against the introduction of Clean Air Zone (CAZ) charges today (Febuary 3).

Drivers fear the new regulations in the 500 square mile CAZ will force many of them off the road because of the increased cost of buying compliant vehicles.

Some 100 taxi drivers assembled at the Etihad Stadium before making their way into Manchester city centre, blowing their horns as they looped past mayor Andy Burnham's offices in Oxford Road. READ MORE: Iconic New Century Hall to re-open as live music venue and food hall And more than 40 drivers made the trip from the Salford City Roosters Rugby League Club, taking an hour to weave their way around the narrow roads of Monton and Eccles before arriving at Media City, where horns were blared.

Despite the numbers, both protests were low key, with organisers saying they wanted to keep traffic disruption around both cities to a 'minimum'.