Southend-on-Sea City Council’s Cabinet is being asked to adopt and approve the Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for 2023-2027 which details targeted measures to improve air quality in our City.
The purpose of the action plan is to address air quality concerns associated with a short section of Victoria Avenue, close to the junctions with East Street, West Street, Priory Crescent and Fairfax Drive. This was declared an Air Quality Management Area in 2020 (AQMA2) for exceeding the annual mean limit for nitrogen dioxide which predominately comes from road traffic.
It is also recommended that the measures are applied to a stretch of the A127 between Hobleythick Lane and Rochford Road at The Bell Junction which was designated an Air Quality Management Area in 2016 (AQMA1) and the rest of the City of Southend-on-Sea.
Air pollution is associated with a number of adverse health impacts. It is recognised as a contributing factor in the onset of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, air pollution affects the most vulnerable in society: children and older people, and those with heart and lung conditions. There is also a strong correlation with equalities issues because areas with poor air quality are often the less affluent areas.
The action plan mainly aims to tackle the main causes of poor air quality within Southend-on-Sea, namely emissions from combustion engines, particularly diesel vehicles and actions have been developed under topics that include promoting alternatives to private vehicle use, policy guidance and development control, promoting low emission transport, public information, and transport planning and infrastructure.
Cllr Carole Mulroney, cabinet member for environment, culture and tourism, said: “The council is constantly monitoring air pollution and we use this information to help inform road transport improvements and major infrastructure projects such as the A127 Kent Elms scheme and The Bell junction improvements, which ultimately help to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
“I want Southend to be a City with a good quality of life and improving air quality plays a huge part in tackling some of the most challenging issues we face such as improving health and protecting our most vulnerable, combatting climate change, and tackling congestion on our roads.
“We are determined to be at the forefront of improving air quality to protect our residents and make us one of the greenest cities in the UK. Adopting the Air Quality Action Plan for 2023 to 2027 will enable us to work towards these ambitions.
“I am also delighted to announce that following an application by officers, the council has been awarded £256,285 from the government’s annual Air Quality Grant. This will be used to purchase air quality and audit sensor equipment to monitor the air quality at 10 schools across the City. This will help us to develop knowledge about local pollution and consider interventions that will improve air quality and reduce pupil exposure to pollution. More details to come on this exciting development!”
The Adoption of Air Quality Action Plan 2023-2027 is available to view on our democracy website.