Bongo Fury

Driving home this evening I noted new signage advertising the new low emission zone coming to Manchester. Apparently it's in two phases:

Phase 1 (30 May 2022): Daily charges for non-compliant HGVs, buses, and non-Greater Manchester licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.

Phase 2 (1 June 2023): Daily charges for non-compliant vans, coaches (on application), light goods vehicles (LGVs), minibuses, Greater Manchester-licensed hackney cabs and private hire vehicles.

Phase 1 is nice, "non-Greater Manchester licensed taxis and private hire vehicles" means all the Sefton and Wolverhampton-plated taxis which must be cheaper than local ones will now be off the road.

But the website continues: Non-compliant vehicles with a body type of ‘motorcaravan’ – will be charged to travel in the Clean Air Zone - If your motorcaravan has a Euro 5 or earlier diesel engine (typically registered before 2016) or a Euro 3 or earlier petrol engine (typically registered before 2005) it will automatically qualify for a temporary exemption until 1 June 2023, with a daily charge of £10 from that date.

Brilliant. Looks like Bongy may have to go to the big scrapheap in the sky after all

"Hey George - want to buy a low-mileage Bongo?"

Sell the alloys, surrender the log book instant home office, granny annex, grand kids rumpus room. You know it makes sense.

It's only a tenner a day. Turning the gas off at home for an hour will save an equivalent amount.....

I'm waiting for the 1st good lecky conversion to retro fit, thinking of mating one to an old milk float as a stop gap. It may take 3 days to get to stourport but when/ if I get there I won't need hook up.

Also soon coming to Bath, Birmingham, Bradford & Portsmouth

And probably every other UK town and city as they milk consumer pockets with the scam, all these disasters they say await us all all seem to cost us money, glad I'm in an old pit village.

Muzorewa wrote: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:38 pm

Brilliant. Looks like Bongy may have to go to the big scrapheap in the sky after all

Can you not get Bongy reregistered as an MPV as it would have been on import....that way there will be no charge for driving in GM

I think they've got it covered all ways up. Unconverted it's an 8-seater (minibus), without rear seats it's a car-derived van, and as a camper it's a motorcaravan. Mine is classed as motorcaravan (body type) and PLG (tax class) on the V5.

Don't forget that by 'Manchester' they mean the whole of Greater Manchester, which includes Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford & Wigan. All roads are included, the only exceptions are motorways, so if you're passing through on the M6 or M62 you're ok, but all other roads are included.

I'm interested to see what camera coverage they have, Mrs Muz does a fair bit of local commutes which may well not be covered by the cameras, but you wouldn't want to find out several weeks later with 20 or so penalty notices...

Muzorewa wrote: Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:29 am I think they've got it covered all ways up. Unconverted it's an 8-seater (minibus), without rear seats it's a car-derived van, and as a camper it's a motorcaravan. Mine is classed as motorcaravan (body type) and PLG (tax class) on the V5.

Don't forget that by 'Manchester' they mean the whole of Greater Manchester, which includes Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford & Wigan. All roads are included, the only exceptions are motorways, so if you're passing through on the M6 or M62 you're ok, but all other roads are included.

I'm interested to see what camera coverage they have, Mrs Muz does a fair bit of local commutes which may well not be covered by the cameras, but you wouldn't want to find out several weeks later with 20 or so penalty notices...

mine is an unconverted tin top that is registered as a MPV, i live in Wigan so in the zone.... when checked Ed shows up that there is no charge for hin

Muzorewa wrote: Tue Jan 25, 2022 8:29 am I think they've got it covered all ways up. Unconverted it's an 8-seater (minibus), without rear seats it's a car-derived van, and as a camper it's a motorcaravan. Mine is classed as motorcaravan (body type) and PLG (tax class) on the V5.

Don't forget that by 'Manchester' they mean the whole of Greater Manchester, which includes Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford & Wigan. All roads are included, the only exceptions are motorways, so if you're passing through on the M6 or M62 you're ok, but all other roads are included.

I'm interested to see what camera coverage they have, Mrs Muz does a fair bit of local commutes which may well not be covered by the cameras, but you wouldn't want to find out several weeks later with 20 or so penalty notices...

Oh crikey, I didn't realise it meant that much coverage! May have to plan my trips carefully!

I'm following a future meet with Motorhomer at Littleborough. They have just added to their post that the Manchester zones (all of them) have been put on hold for a while:

"This rally will not be affected by the Manchester clean air zone. The government has suspended ALL charges until a decision can be made about the future of the project"

Just thought you might like to know if planning to travel anywhere near. I can't say whether this is true or not. I haven't researched it but I guess Muz has.

Jilly

Yes the 30th May 2022 date has been put back to an unspecified date, hopefully 12th of Never. Even BJ labelled it as “completely unworkable” at PMQ's last Wednesday.

There is already a map available of where all the cameras will be, so Mrs Muz is busy plotting out her routes to avoid passing any of them

mmmmmm 12th of Never - Johnny Mathis! Memories!