A verbal update will be provided at the meeting.
Minutes:
Zoe Whiteside, Service Lead for Spatial Planning presented a verbal update on air quality. Members were informed that work was underway for a draft Air Quality Strategy and acknowledged that there had been delays due to Covid-19, and staffing. Within the draft Air Quality Strategy, there were links to climate change, measurements for air quality and plans to coordinate across Lancashire to measure and set a baseline for targets.
After the Council declared a Climate Emergency in November 2019, work was designed to include a tree planting scheme, address local spaces, and the recruitment of Climate Change Coordinator to implement the strategy and action plan. Members were advised that the Draft would be taken to CLT in November before going out for consultation in the New Year.
Carolyn Williams, Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator, added that the delay of the Environment Bill in the House of Commons also attributed to the delay, but they intended to move forward with more specific targets for particulate matter 2.5. Central Government were exploring targets but were not ready to commit to the 10mg target but have existing targets in place for 2022 to be delivered by 2032.
PM 2.5 was 20.2% of emissions related to road transport. At present, Chorley does not have any obligation to create and meet air quality targets but the Council was voluntarily demonstrating its commitment to the Air Quality Strategy and Climate Change Emergency.
More information about Chorley specifically was available on Lancashire County Council’s website and it was agreed that this would be shared with Members. The biggest issue facing Chorley was nitrous oxide due to the close proximity of the motorways. In 2018, the motorways contributed to 60-70 tons of nitrous oxide.
Members queried the locations of the monitoring areas in the borough. It was understood that Chorley had six monitoring stations, the exact locations of these would be provided to Members after the meeting. Three of the stations showed levels slightly above what was desired, but below the levels required for Air Quality Management Areas, and in 2020 the three have shown a decrease. The data would be used to help policy, and to be part of future planning applications.
Members were curious as to whether there would be an impact on outside dining areas close to roads, in particular the A6 bypass in the Town Centre. It was clarified that the distance from the road where it was likely to have outside dining would result in low levels, and there were also landscaping buffers put in place to create separation.
In response to a query from the Chair regarding the role of local schools and the Air Quality Strategy, Members were advised that schools would be reflected in the Air Quality Strategy Plan. It was recognised that a number of authorities had projects in place to encourage more active measures to prevent drop off and pick up air pollution, including no car zones and park and walk, although these had not been popular. It was agreed that community engagement and engagement with schools was required to raise awareness of air quality issues and promote the Air Quality Strategy.
Decision – That the update be noted.