Agenda item

Report of Cabinet Member for Safety and Communities, Councillor Victoria Atherstone

The Cabinet Member for Safety and Community had great pleasure in confirming that further to DEFRA guidance, the council is now in a position to successfully revoke the air quality management area around the Royal Mail sorting officer at the lower end of High Street, with NO2 levels substantially decreased since 2020, following Covid lockdowns, changes in commuting habits, and the increase in hybrid and electric.  The environmental protection team has agreed the proposed course of action with DEFRA and the public health team at Gloucestershire County Council,  but will continue to monitor air quality across the town particularly particulate matter which arises from a wide range of sources including road vehicles, industry, agriculture and domestic combustion.  This will be reduced as much as possible, but  in revoking the air quality management area, the associated air quality action plan becomes obsolete.  Further to DEFRA guidance, therefore, the council will develop a town-wide plan instead, and work with stakeholders to achieve its ambitions, which will have a positive effect across the town.  

The Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency welcomed this excellent news and looked forward to working on the new strategy, saying reducing pollution was sometimes controversial but was important for healthy communities, particularly at traffic pinch points around the town. 

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets also welcomed the revocation, and  agreed that an air quality strategy for the whole town is needed.  With new development in West Cheltenham, it will set foundations for better air quality moving forward.  He thanked officers for their hard work.

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling, Parks, Gardens, and Public Greenspace said he had been staggered at the amount of particulate matter in his recently-installed extractor fans, showing it to be a huge problem for anyone living near a main road or who regularly walks in the town.  He said one of the issues here is that national government policy is not strong enough and should be stronger.   

He added that Charlton Kings Parish Council has introduced a trial programme to reduce traffic idling at junctions, with clear signage to remind motorists of the need to look after themselves and others.  He hoped that this could be rolled out across the town at some point.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Wellbeing, Culture and Public Open Space was pleased by this positive progress, arising from work done by CBC, GCC and partner organisations, as well as work and changes people are making to live healthier lives, and promote a better future from a climate point of view.  He agreed that a town-wide strategy is a great opportunity to continue improving the situation, and it will provide a lot of data to provide reassurance and to build on.

The Leader welcomed all these comments, which show the importance of the issue.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the revocation of the existing 2020 AQMA, based on the

information provided at Annex 3, is authorised;

2.     subject to recommendation 1, authority is delegated to the Head of Public Protection, in consultation with the Cabinet Member Safety and Communities, to take the necessary steps to revoke the AQMA;

3.     production of an Air Quality Strategy is authorised.