Consultation to begin to help cut air pollution

A consultation is set to get underway in North Tyneside aiming to improve the air quality of the borough.

With ambitions to be carbon net-zero by 2030, North Tyneside Council continues to explore many different ways to create a greener borough.

And at last night’s Cabinet meeting (23 January), it was agreed that a consultation will begin on the council’s draft Air Quality Strategy.

The local authority actively monitors air quality in North Tyneside and levels are consistently considered to be good, but the strategy sets out how it will further improve the levels. It also highlights that by continuing to work collaboratively with residents, businesses and partners, the council can further reduce air pollutants.

Cllr Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “Poor air quality is one of the biggest environmental risks to human health today. It impacts many health conditions, with lives very sadly cut short due to exposure to harmful air pollutants.

“Encouragingly, compared to elsewhere, the air quality in North Tyneside is good, but we are not complacent. This does not mean that improvements can’t be made, and we will continue to do all we can to make a difference.

“However, we cannot do this alone and we need the help of residents and businesses. If everyone makes small changes – like leaving the car at home for short journeys, recycling wherever possible and turning lights off when leaving a room – collectively it makes a big difference.

The consultation will begin on 30 January and run for six weeks, until 6 March 2023. It will seek the views of residents and businesses on the plan.

In 2021, North Tyneside Council announced its ambition to work towards being carbon net-zero by 2030. Through a range of activities, it has already achieved impressive results, with its own carbon footprint reduced by 53 per cent and the borough’s by 47 per cent in recent years.