New strategy in the air to cut pollution in historic city

The authority hopes the scheme will set a national precedent if plans to transform York into a low-emission city are successful and has announced it is turning to social media to offer advice on how to combat pollution.

It follows on from a decision by Ryedale District Council last week to push ahead with a new action plan which sets out proposals to address air quality levels in Malton and Norton.

Coun Dave Merrett, c abinet member for city strategy, said: “We are currently developing a Low Emission Strategy (LES), which aims to reduce vehicle emissions and encourage the wider uptake of alternatively fuelled vehicles across the city.”

Last month the council was awarded £68,500 in funding by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to help to improve air quality. The money will be used to finance a Low Emission Zone feasibility study and to establish a fleet recognition scheme to help reduce vehicle emissions. Funding will also be used to encourage more people to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles.

There will be further work linked to these schemes to measure exhaust emissions. This research will be funded through last year’s Defra funding and will assist in drawing up emissions profiles for different types and ages of vehicles. Information will then be used to decide which vehicles may be excluded from a Low Emission Zone in the future.

Mike Southcombe, the council’s environmental protection manager, said: “The recent funding from Defra will allow our Environmental Protection Unit to progress two projects critical to York’s emerging LES. This will set out the long term strategy for reducing emissions and improving air quality in York.

“The LES aims to transform York into a nationally acclaimed low emission city, where local residents and businesses are aware of their impact on the environment and play an active role in reducing all emissions”.

Advice on how to protect air quality will be given out on the council’s Twitter feed on World Environmental Health Day today.

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