York blazes trail in fight to cut air pollution

It is estimated that up to 163 residents of York die each year from conditions linked to harmful emissions – the same as the number of fatalities attributed to alcohol abuse, obesity and road accidents combined.

Following a city-wide consultation on the issue, members of York Council’s cabinet are expected to agree to plans for a Low Emission Strategy at a meeting a week today.

The strategy outlines how the council is aiming to protect residents from the harmful effects of air pollutants and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The authority’s cabinet member for city strategy, Coun Dave Merrett, claimed York was leading the way nationally in implementing its action plan.

He added: “Poor air quality puts people’s health at risk, creates an unpleasant environment for visitors to the city, may damage historic buildings and places an additional financial burden on local health service providers.

“It’s crucial that we step up our efforts to address this issue.”

York was last year named as the UK’s second-fastest growing after Milton Keynes, as the population broke the 200,000 mark, prompting fears for the under-pressure transport infrastructure.

It has raised fears for air quality in the city despite ongoing attempts to tackle pollution blackspots on the city’s roads network as car fumes from traffic tailbacks contributed to high levels of nitrogen dioxide.

Two years earlier, the city’s average levels of nitrogen dioxide had exceeded targets set by both the council and the Government and stood at their highest point for seven years.

The pollutant has been linked to lung diseases including asthma, bronchitis and emphysema as well as heart conditions and cancer.

A report to the cabinet said: “Good air quality contributes towards a general sense of wellbeing and helps promote healthy lifestyles by allowing exercise and leisure activities to take place in a clean, pleasant and safe environment.

“Poor air quality puts health at risk and in some cases may lead to premature death. It places additional financial burden on local health services and can make everyday life a struggle for some of the most vulnerable members of society.”

Some of the measures proposed in the low emission strategy include restrictions on what vehicles can enter the most highly polluted areas.

Incentives could be offered to motorists to use low emission vehicles, especially those which run on electricity and other low-carbon fuels and extra charging points for electric cars and gas refuelling systems could be installed.

There are also proposals to offer backing to vehicle operators who adopt low emission technologies and to introduce licensing controls dictating stricter rules on emissions for taxis.

The city council has set a target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 25 per cent by 2013 
and has signed up to Friends 
of the Earth’s campaign to 
reduce emissions by 40 per cent by 2020.

Coun Merrett maintained that York faced a particular challenge because it had about 5,000 more people travelling to work in the city than leaving to work elsewhere each day.

He added: “Reducing vehicle emissions, which are the prime cause of the problem, will be a very difficult challenge.

“York has a successful, growing economy and population and a very constrained road network.”

The council said, if approved, the low emission strategy would be followed by a more detailed air quality action plan later in the year.