Chichester District Council’s Cabinet declared an Air Quality Management Area at Rumbolds Hill in Midhurst at its meeting on 7 January.
Air quality monitoring data at Rumbolds Hill has identified the need for an Air Quality Action Plan to help reduce the level of nitrogen dioxide in the area. Declaring an Air Quality Management Area is a key step towards achieving this.
The declaration follows a public consultation and means that the council will now work on producing an Air Quality Action Plan, listing the measures that can be taken to help reduce air pollution.
“Enhancing air quality in the district is a key priority for the council, and declaring an Air Quality Management Area at Rumbold’s Hill is just one of the steps we are taking to help protect our district’s environment,” says Councillor Penny Plant, Cabinet Member for the Environment at Chichester District Council.
“As a council, we monitor air quality in key areas of the district for the benefit of our residents, businesses and visitors. We have a duty to designate areas as Air Quality Management Areas where the nationally prescribed Air Quality Objectives are not being achieved or likely to be achieved. The creation of a new Air Quality Action Plan for Rumbold’s Hill will outline options and actions aimed at improving air quality in the area.
“We will be working with partner organisations such as West Sussex County Council, South Downs National Park Authority, Midhurst Town Council and Midhurst Vision Steering Group, to deliver the plan, which is due for adoption in summer 2020.
Gillian Keegan MP said,
'It is great that the Council are putting in place an Air Quality Management Area at Rumbolds Hill in Midhurst. I recently highlighted this particular site in a speech in Parliament, following enquiries about poor air quality to the Council.
This is the first step to ensure the air quality is improved and I will do all I can to support any action to tackle poor air quality.
I will be continuing my work in Parliament on this issue and the wider environment. The Government are bringing forward the Environment Bill which will put in place measures and oversite bodies to ensure action on these issues is swift and effective as we move towards our target of net-zero carbon by, or before, 2050.'
People can find more information on pollution and air quality at www.chichester.gov.uk/pollution