Colchester City Council has drafted an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) aimed at reducing air pollution across the city. To ensure the plan meets the community's needs, the council is inviting residents to take part in the short survey which will help shape the plan.
The AQAP encourages and promotes walking, cycling and public transport as an alternative to driving, where possible, for residents and businesses.
In Colchester, the main source of pollution is from vehicle exhausts. In the city centre, narrow streets with closely packed buildings trap the pollutants, preventing them from dispersing, meaning they remain in the air for residents and visitors to breathe. That’s why it’s crucial to encourage cleaner, healthier travel options. We are therefore asking the public to take part in a short survey to help us shape the AQAP further, which can be found here.
Cllr Andrea Luxford Vaughan, Portfolio Holder for Planning, Environment and Sustainability, said: “Nearly 1 in 20 deaths in Colchester are linked in some way to air quality causing respiratory problems such as lung disease. We want to ensure our residents can live healthy lives, and with the help of the Air Quality Action Plan, we can tackle air quality issues.
“Improved air quality has numerous health benefits, particularly for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions.”
Page last reviewed: 13 November 2024