Government approves Nottingham’s air quality plan
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The Government today announced it has approved Nottingham
City Council’s new plan to tackle air pollution in Nottingham city
centre. For the past three years, the
council has been working with officials from Defra and the
Department for Transport to identify measures to reduce levels of
pollution in the shortest possible time and deliver compliance with
legal air quality limits. The plans were assessed by
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The Government today
announced it has approved Nottingham City Council’s new
plan to tackle air pollution in Nottingham city
centre.
For the past three years, the
council has been working with officials from Defra and the
Department for Transport to identify measures to reduce levels of
pollution in the shortest possible time and deliver compliance
with legal air quality limits.
The plans were assessed by government
officials and cleared by Ministers who have issued a Ministerial
Direction for the plan to be implemented. Nottingham is the first
local authority to have their air quality plan approved as part
of the government’s wider £3.5bn plan to tackle harmful emissions
from road transport across the country.
Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey
said:
“I am delighted to approve Nottingham City
Council’s new air quality plan. Air pollution is the top
environmental risk to health in the UK and these
government-funded plans will clean up the air in the city centre,
protecting residents and visitors alike.
“The plans have been finalised thanks to hard
work and collaboration - a brilliant example of what can be
achieved when local and national government work together towards
a common goal.
"We will continue to work with local
authorities across the UK to improve the quality of the air we
breathe.”
Nottingham’s plan will see the council
improving air quality by:
In addition, Nottingham City Council has
received funding from the Government to support the conversion of
its own fleet, including replacing heavy, high polluting vehicles
such as bin lorries with electric vehicles.
Councillor Sally Longford, Portfolio Holder
for Energy and Environment, said:
“We worked hard on a plan that would reduce
air pollution in the shortest possible time for our citizens, and
we’re thrilled this has now been agreed, along with nearly £1m
funding for extra measures to support taxi drivers.
“We’re looking forward to progressing these
schemes to clean up the city’s buses and taxis, building on our
strong track record in improving air quality through investment
in sustainable transport, such as the electric tram, our
award-winning electric and biogas bus fleets and cycle
network.
“Air pollution is a significant threat to
public health today, and road transport emissions are a big part
of that. We’re confident we can deliver our plan and go even
further to improve the quality of the air in our city.”
While Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) levels have fallen
significantly in recent decades, including a 27% drop since
2010, The UK Plan for
Tackling Roadside Nitrogen Dioxide
Concentrations outlines how councils with the worst
levels of air pollution at busy road junctions and hotspots must
take action. Due to the highly localised nature of the problem,
local knowledge is crucial in solving pollution problems in these
hotspots. This is why local authorities, like Nottingham City
Council, take the lead on developing air quality plans, with
support and funding from central government.
Work continues on air quality plans in towns
and cities across the rest of the UK. Final plans have also been
received from Birmingham and Leeds, while 33 other local
authorities are still working to develop theirs. Once their plans
are finalised and approved by Defra and DfT Ministers, the
government will ensure sufficient funding is in place for the
agreed measures.
The government is also taking wider action to
tackle air pollution:
- ENDS -
Notes to editors:
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