Have your say on our Air Quality Action Plan
We’re asking people in Brighton & Hove to have their say on our plan to improve the city’s air quality.
An 8-week consultation on our draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) began on Monday 16 May and runs until Monday 11 July.
The consultation will ask people about what they think of the plan, our priority areas and ask them what measures they could take to improve air quality in the city.
Airborne pollution is a major contributor to 170 early deaths that occur each year in Brighton & Hove.
It can be a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer, and also affects the most vulnerable in society: children, the elderly and those with existing heart and lung conditions.
In 2017, air pollution in the UK contributed to the deaths of up to 36,000 people and is estimated to have cost the NHS and local authorities £157 million.
Our draft AQAP
Measures set out in our draft AQAP are targeted towards the predominant sources of emissions within the city, especially where these contribute to poor air quality in the six Air Quality Management Areas that were declared or amended in 2020.
The plan sets out five priorities:
- Increase active travel, support mode shift and reduce the need to travel
- Encourage and support uptake of ultra-low and zero exhaust vehicles
- Improve monitoring and public awareness
- Reduce emissions from buildings and new development
- Partnership working
Each of these priorities comes with a series of proposed actions.
Councillor Amy Heley, Co-Chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability committee said: “Improving the city’s air quality is one of our key priorities. We know the impact poor air quality can have on our health, especially for those with pre-existing medical conditions.
“We’re already taking steps by investing in active and sustainable travel, zero and low emission transport, School Streets and our first Liveable Neighbourhood pilot in Hanover and Tarner; but we can always do more.
“The priorities and measures set out in this draft plan will help shape how we tackle air pollution and I would urge everyone to read the plan and have their say.”
Background
Brighton & Hove's first Air Quality Action Plan was produced in 2006, with second and third editions in 2011 and 2015.
This revised Air Quality Action Plan (2022-2027) has been produced as part of our statutory duties under the Environment Act 1995, as required by the Local Air Quality Management (LAQM) framework.
Where an area is identified as at risk of non-compliance with legal limits of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), an Air Quality Action Plan is needed.
This plan is required for the six Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) that were declared by the council in 2020, because monitoring and modelling showed a risk of non-compliance with toxic NO2 and therefore a danger to public health.
Progress on measures set out within this plan will be reported within the council’s annual status reports, and the AQAP will be updated in 2027.
More information
If you want us to send paper copies of the plan and or questionnaire please email us at transport.projects@brighton-hove.gov.uk or phone 01273 292480 and leave your name and address, and state you would like to respond to the "Air Quality Action Plan consultation".
Comments on the draft AQAP document will be analysed and considered in the preparation of the final document. The final AQAP document will then be reported to and considered at a future Environment, Transport and Sustainability (ETS) committee for approval.