WILTSHIRE Council has formally adopted its Air Quality Action Plan, which details how it will continue to progress with improvements to air quality and health protection across the county.
The Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) fulfils the council’s statutory duties, as set out by the Local Air Quality Management Framework. It outlines the action the council will take to improve air quality in Wiltshire up to 2029. The action plan replaces the previous AQAP, which ran from 2015-2023.
Wiltshire Council had previously declared Westbury as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) back in November 2001 for exceeding annual average nitrogen dioxide levels, due to air pollution from the high volume of traffic along the A350 through the town.
Westbury Mayor, cllr Mike Sutton, previously criticised Wiltshire Council, saying it has failed to improve air quality in Westbury in over 20 years, since the AQMA was first established. This follows the approval of controversial plans for an incinerator at the edge of town which have created further concerns from residents about the future of air quality in Westbury.
Cllr Dominic Muns, Cabinet Member for Environment, said, “The Air Quality Action Plan will support our efforts to improve air quality in Wiltshire as a whole.
“Recent data shows that air quality has improved in Westbury, with levels of nitrogen dioxide within the Westbury Air Quality Management Area below the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide. For a revocation of an Air Quality Management Order, DEFRA require for there to be three years of monitoring data which indicates levels 10% below the objective or five years data consistently below the objective. We have allocated additional funds to purchase real time air quality monitoring equipment in Westbury and we are embarking on a programme to provide a number of low cost air pollution monitors across the county, working in collaboration with a number of universities as part of a national project.
“We take air quality issues very seriously and will continue to robustly monitor air pollution in the Westbury area.”
Projects delivered directly and indirectly through the previous action plan include:
• Ensuring air quality was incorporated into wider spatial planning and transport policy.
• Supporting the implementation of LTP (Local Transport Plan) 3, where it brings about improvements in air quality.
• Establishment of local air quality groups to spearhead their own local initiatives to improve air quality within AQMAs.
• Developing revised supplementary planning guidance on air quality for developers.
• Developing a dedicated air quality website giving access to data to Wiltshire residents and others.
• Introducing a ‘know and respond’ text service for vulnerable people to alert them of poor air quality episodes.
The council has designed actions that can be considered under the following broad topics:
• Alternatives to private vehicle use
•Environmental permits
• Freight and delivery management
• Policy guidance and development control
• Promoting low emission transport
• Promoting low emission plant
• Promoting travel alternatives
• Public information
• Transport planning and infrastructure
• Traffic management
• Vehicle fleet efficiency
Highways, neighbouring local authorities, the Environment Agency, Defra and members of the public.
The cabinet report and full Air Quality Action Plan can be found at https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=14755
