Suffolk Coastal has air quality action plan approved

Suffolk Coastal council has had plans to address nitrogen dioxide emissions within a designated Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) approved by Defra.

Proposals were put forward late last year to reduce nitrogen dioxide air pollution on the A12 at Stratford St Andrew which has exceeded the 40 µg/m3 legal limit and therefore requires action from the local authority.

Steps are being taken by Suffolk Coastal council to reduce air pollution on the A12 road

Studies undertaken by the council have suggested that southbound traffic accelerating prior to the end of a 30 mph speed limit in Stratford St. Andrew were a large part of the problem.

The main measure in the Action Plan is to move a 30mph speed limit sign further south of the village in an aim to reduce the overall speed in the area and any accelerating at Long Row itself.

This measure was implemented in December 2017, and the council is now monitoring the impact of the measure and the authority is now ‘working closely’ with Suffolk county council to determine if any further measures contained within the plan may be required.

Measures

Other potential measures outlined in the plan deploying activated signage or speed cameras to warn drivers of the reduced speed limit on the approach to the village.

The council has also committed to carrying out close monitoring of planning applications to assess any impact on air quality, and could seek to target emissions from construction traffic related to the expansion of the Sizewell nuclear power plant, from developer EDF.

Cllr Carol Poulter, Suffolk Coastal’s cabinet member for the Green Environment, said: “It is great news that the government have approved our Air Quality Action Plan for Stratford St Andrew. We are committed to reducing air pollution and are working closely with both the County Council and the local community to achieve this.”

Figures published by the council in February suggested that air quality across the borough remains ‘generally good’ but noted that concerns remain in two areas due to nitrogen dioxide emissions (see airqualitynews.com story).

The report included monitoring data for 2016 and detailed progress on actions to improve air quality within the two designated Air Quality Management Areas and across the district as a whole.

Related Links
Suffolk Coastal — Stratford St Andrew AQAP