Residents, communities and businesses are being urged to have their say as Croydon Council conducts the final consultation on its plans to improve air quality across the borough.
With the publication of its five-year draft Air Quality Action Plan, earlier this year, the council began the process of reducing air pollution that affects the health and well-being of everyone in Croydon, and making the borough’s air cleaner, greener and safer.
The plan’s final draft can be viewed at www.croydon.gov.uk/environment/pollution/air-pollution/final-consultation-draft-air-quality-action-plan-2017
It contains a list of proposed measures and actions that the council will take to improve air quality between 2017 and 2022, and the final consultation runs until 29 January 2018.
The new action plan has been produced to build upon successes that came out of the 2012-17 plan, including:
• the establishment of a Zip Car club that has seen 1,638 residents join;
• the installation of 47 electric-vehicle charging points;
• the installation of 20 idling-vehicle signs at borough schools;
• the implementation of the town-centre construction logistics plan; and
• the Clean Air 4 Schools project in six borough primary schools.
Air pollution is associated with a number of health conditions, including the onset of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, air pollution particularly affects the most vulnerable – children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions.
One of the major contributors to air pollution is nitrogen dioxide produced by diesel vehicles. In tackling diesel emissions, the council, in conjunction with Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth, is working to improve air quality by reducing the number of delivery vehicles travelling into the borough; 17% of transport emissions are from vehicles associated with delivery and servicing.
The council is working with local business and retailers to find out how goods and services are and will be delivered, and what issues they expect to encounter.
To address the issue of emissions produced by construction sites and construction vehicles, the council has implemented a town-centre construction logistics plan setting out measures to manage and communicate what is being done to ensure that visitors, residents and businesses can continue to function. These actions are considered essential to keep Croydon “business as usual” during the development works planned for the town centre over the next few years.
Councillor Stuart King, cabinet member for transport and environment
“I’d like to thank all who have contributed their thoughts and suggestions to earlier drafts of this important plan. Now, I’d urge those people and more to take part in this final consultation and help the council as we try to ensure the air that we breathe is as clean as possible.
“The quality of the air has a huge impact on our quality of life. Pollution impacts everyone’s health and well-being, but it has a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable – children, older people and those with health conditions. Improving air quality is vital if we want to make Croydon not only cleaner and greener but also safer.
“In order to improve health, the council’s committed to reducing the exposure of people in Croydon to poor air quality. We’re asking residents to work with us and I hope everyone will get involved by taking part in this final consultation to help us draw up our plan of action.”
