Decision details

To consider the outcome of consultation on the Air Quality Management Action Plan. 

Discussion:

The Environmental Health Manager advised that the report gave the latest position on air quality, showing that the principal source of pollutant in Medway was nitrogen dioxide, identified as arising from vehicle exhausts, and the majority of Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) declarations across the country were for this pollutant.

The committee was advised that as the findings from the latest detailed assessment showed further exceedence of this pollutant affecting residential property, it was proposed to revoke the current six AQMAs and declare three new areas including a large central AQMA, as shown on the maps accompanying the report.

Members asked what work could be carried out to reduce the pollutant. Officers responded that they would continue to work with the integrated transport team and added that the Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) also sought to address local air quality. It was noted that several areas of Kent had declarations of air quality for traffic emissions.

The committee asked about areas of Medway not included in the AQMAs and asked that other locations highlighted by Members were looked into over the next 12 months. Members asked that if officers looked into re-designing traffic management schemes to improve the flow of traffic, to consider any knock-on effects elsewhere in respect to traffic flow and air quality.

Decision:

The committee agreed to recommend that the current Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) are revoked and the three new AQMAs including a large central AQMA, as set out in the report, are declared.