Council to declare new air quality management areas

 

Cheshire East Council is taking further steps to ensure air quality in the borough is at its best.

Building on its commitment to promoting clean air, the council undertakes regular air quality monitoring of nitrogen dioxide at more than 100 sites across the borough to identify any area that is likely to exceed the national limit.

With the borough recently voted as one of the best places to live in the UK, the council is  keen to ensure that residents enjoy quality of life and quality of clean air.

Road traffic is known to be the main contributor of nitrogen dioxide and, as a result of our monitoring, we have identified the need to declare six new air quality management areas in the towns of Sandbach, Middlewich and Macclesfield.

As part of this declaration process, the council would like to invite residents to get involved by letting us know their views on air quality in Cheshire East, along with the opportunity to get involved in developing action plans for improving air quality in their local towns.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) continues to place Cheshire East in the lowest band for air pollution, below cities such as Manchester and London.

By declaring these new air quality management areas, our residents can be assured that the council will give focussed attention to reduce air pollution and that they can continue to enjoy all the great outdoor activities Cheshire East has to offer.

Councillor Paul Bates, cabinet member for communities and health, said: “Clean air is a priority for this council and, as chair of the air quality steering group, we will be overseeing the development of a replacement air quality action plan and monitoring its subsequent implementation.

“There is a legal requirement on the council to declare these air quality management areas, but as a further step, the council wishes to take on board the views of our residents and businesses and engage them in the process of developing the new action plan in their area.”

The consultation and further information can be found on the following website:  http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/air_quality_consultation

Further information on air quality can be found on the council’s website http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/air_quality and on the government’s website https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/

You can contact the air quality team by calling 0300 123 5015 or via  airquality@cheshireeast.gov.uk