03 September 2010A new plan has been agreed that aims to improve air quality in the Sevenoaks District.
Sevenoaks, along with all councils, has a duty to regularly assess air quality within its area and identify any locations where air pollution may exceed the targets set by the Government.
When an area exceeds the target, the Council must designate it as an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ and draw up an action plan to reduce air pollution.
A total of 11 Air Quality Management Areas have been identified in Sevenoaks District since 2002. In most cases, one common pollutant, NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide), was found to exceed the Government's target. The pollutant is produced by vehicle emissions.
Sevenoaks District Council has now agreed an action plan to help improve air quality in the 11 areas with a range of measures which include promotion and awareness campaigns and working with the County Council, other partners and the private sector.
As part of drawing up the action plan, the Council wrote to nearly 2,500 homes and businesses in the affected areas and in total received nearly 50 comments and suggestions. Where possible, the plan was revised in light of the comments.
Cllr Elaine Bracken, the Council's Cabinet member with responsibility for air quality, says: “This new action plan, combined with cleaner more efficient vehicles, should contribute to improved air quality in the areas where pollution exceeds Government targets. As this pollution is a direct result of vehicle emissions, some of the greatest improvements we could all make is to car share or adopt more sustainable forms of transport, even on an occasional basis. Many local schools are leading the way with their walking buses and the County Council has set up an excellent car sharing website."
Visit www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/airquality to view Sevenoaks District Council's Quality Action Plan or Kent County Council's Journey Share website.
The air quality management plan was agreed by the Council’s Cabinet at last night's meeting (Friday 11 June 2009).
