Ipswich Borough Council is proposing changes to our Air Quality Action Plan 2019- 2024 to fine-tune what is being done to reduce air pollution in the town.
The Council has a duty to monitor air quality in Ipswich and it does so in ninety locations. When the monitoring shows there are high levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the Council is required to declare Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). Ipswich has four AQMAs.
The Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) (2019 – 2024) contains measures aimed at addressing where the annual mean objective level for NO2 is exceeded in an AQMA. The AQAP has been appraised by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and they found it acceptable.
The Council’s Executive next week will be considering several improvements to the AQAP.
Some of the changes that will be considered are the provision of A-rated boilers in Council-owned housing stock to include exploring alternative technology for heating.
There are various changes for which Suffolk County Council will be the lead:
- Accelerate the provision of on-street public Electric Vehicle charging points;
- Promote schemes to incentivise people coming into Ipswich town centre to use public transport over private cars;
- Work with Bus Operators in the town (i.e. Ipswich Buses, First, Norse, Beestons) to encourage the renewal of their fleet to cleaner, i.e. Euro VI or better and/or low emission hybrid buses on certain routes;
- Consider and explore the feasibility of further measures that would improve air quality within both AQMAs and across the Borough,
Cllr Alasdair Ross Portfolio Holder for Community Protection, said: “The town’s Air Quality Action Plan is a working plan and needs regular change to ensure we are working in the smartest way to counter air pollution in Ipswich, That is why I am pleased that we are making these improvements but also outlining various measures we want Suffolk County Council to progress.
