Green light for plan to improve air quality across the borough
An Air Quality Action plan was approved by Cabinet members last week and will see Havering Council carry out work to improve local air quality between 2018 and 2023.
These will include:
- a focus on the key hotspots identified in the borough
- ensuring Havering continues to be a greener borough
- a focus on reducing the amount of pollution with more environment-friendly public transport
- the Council leads by example in exploring the use of parks and open spaces as alternative safe routes for walking and cycling
- to continue to provide better transport links and lobbying to improve connections across the borough
- support residents to take action be able to protect themselves at times when pollution levels are high
The plan is to concentrate on areas that were highlighted by residents during a 10-week consultation from January to March this year.
Comments included:
- over 84 percent of those responding, felt air quality is important
- 68 percent felt they can do something about air pollution themselves, with 79 percent saying the Council is responsible for improving local air quality
- just over half of those responding said poor air quality affects their health and wellbeing
- 80 percent said they either strongly agreed or agreed with the proposed actions of the plan
- action is needed to improve cycling facilities, more trees to be planted, upgrade of buses and greater access to different sources of energy to help reduce pollution
Having heard the voice of residents the Council will, together with the London Mayor who has approved this plan, ensure that local pollution levels continue to decrease, improving the health of the local community.
Councillor Viddy Persaud, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Safety, said:
“We want Havering to become an even greener borough than it already is. This action plan to improve the air quality will go a long way to achieving this and will also enhance the lives of all our residents.
“Our priority is to protect and provide ways in which residents can continue to lead healthy and happy lives and part of that is improving the air in which they breathe. We have taken into consideration what residents have told us and aim to carry out what is needed to improve air quality.”