Devon County Council elections: the issues > air quality

Although the County is 'rural', there are still 'urban' issues which are of concern:
Futures Forum: Air pollution and over-development: Exeter and East Devon "recording high readings" of nitrogen dioxide emissions

Indeed, there was a recent FOI request on the issue:
Air Quality Improvement Budget and Funding Provision - a Freedom of Information request to Devon County Council - WhatDoTheyKnow

The responsibilities of the County Council are clear:

Role for Local Authorities: 

Local authorities in the UK have a responsibility under Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) legislation to review air quality. Where concentrations exceed national objectives, measures should be put in place to reduce emissions, and be reported in the local Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). Most such Action Plans are designed to address difficulties in complying with national objectives for either NO2 or PM10.

Role for Local Authorities

The County Council have indeed done something about it:
Air Quality and Noise - DCC
Devon approves £8.5 million road to tackle air quality - Air Quality News

But, along with many other local authorities, this is not enough:
Futures Forum: Air pollution: "So, are we facing up to what's being called an urgent public health crisis?"

This has attracted the attention of the East Devon Watch blog today, following a piece in the Guardian:


“NEARLY 40 MILLION PEOPLE LIVE IN UK AREAS WITH ILLEGAL AIR POLLUTION”

22 APR 2017

Owl says: you don’t hear (current) DCC councillor and its roads supremo Stuart Hughes (Conservative, ex- Monster Raving Loony Party) mentioning this in his election speeches … though you DO hear contender Councillor Marianne Rixson (Independent East Devon Alliance)doing so and drawing attention to its implications for the health of local communities.

“…The extent of the air pollution crisis nationally is exposed in the data which shows 59% of the population are living in towns and cities where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution breaches the lawful level of 40 microgrammes per cubic metre of air. …”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/apr/22/nearly-40-million-people-live-in-uk-areas-with-illegal-air-pollution

Related

Don't breathe in if you live near an industrial estate or on a busy road In "Environment (local)"

One thought on ““Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution””

Diana N says:
22 Apr 2017 at 5:14pm

Agreed! No council in East Devon seems to acknowledge the problem. I have drawn attention to the issue to EDDC regarding coaches/buses and inevitable traffic jams for Colyton Grammar School. Local residents are subjected to these vehicles puffing out their noxious fumes twice a day during term time. They simply do not wish to know about it. Carting children around the countryside everyday, exposes them to the risks of diesel pollution too. In The Times last weekend there was a report that stated ‘”even low exposure may be harmful, and people in many rural areas also face high levels.”

“Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution” | East Devon Watch

With the full article here:
Nearly 40 million people live in UK areas with illegal air pollution | Environment | The Guardian
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