Oxford acts on air pollution – why not Cheltenham?

Oxford Air Quality Action Plan 2021 _ 2025

30 January 2021

Last week, Oxford City Council became the first local authority to set a city-wide air pollution target. Their new Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) moves beyond just trying to achieve legal compliance on Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) pollution. Instead, they have set a reduction target which is significantly stricter than the current legal target: an annual mean NO2 target of 30 μg/m3 by 2025: “30 by 25”.

By contrast, Cheltenham Borough Council doesn’t even have an Air Quality Action Plan – despite a legal requirement to have a plan in place by 2020.

Clean Air Cheltenham has written to all Cheltenham councillors with a copy of the Oxford plan. In many ways, Cheltenham the same problems as Oxford: central air pollution hotspots which are consistently above the 40 μg/m3 legal limit and a lot of traffic from commuters. And both district councils also need to work in partnership with their respective county councils, who also have a responsibility for transport planning. We have asked our local councillors to follow Oxford’s example and quickly put in place the same kind of ambitious plan for Cheltenham.

As Cllr Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for green transport and zero-carbon Oxford points out: “We all have a right to breathe clean air. However, harmful levels of air pollution are harming people’s health and cutting lives short, with poorer and more disadvantaged people disproportionately affected. Air pollution is, at its heart, a social justice issue.

“The legal annual mean limit value for NO2 is 40 μg/m3. Research now shows that this legal limit is not a safe limit. Several health studies show that harmful effects of air pollution are seen at levels below air quality legal standards previously considered to be safe. We take the health of our residents and visitors very seriously and the decision to set a new low target for NO2 is evidence of our commitment to improve health outcomes for all.”
The Oxford AQAP says that the new target of 30 μg/m3 by 2025 is “stretching but within the boundaries of possibility.” The plan sets out 30 actions and measures that the council will deliver across four priority areas:
  • developing partnerships and public education: (e.g. a big outreach programme to stop idling)
  • support for the uptake of low and zero emission vehicles (e.g. a Zero Emission Zone, further electrification of buses and taxis, and a big expansion of charging hubs)
  • reducing emissions from domestic heating, industry and services (e.g. upgrade the energy efficiency of the city’s housing stock, develop local heat networks)
  • reduce the need to travel, explore opportunities for mode shift and increase the uptake of sustainable transport (e.g. by delivering the Connecting Oxford plan,  plus controlled parking zones, Low Traffic Neighborhoods, School Streets, and address city centre freight emissions by creating consolidation centres)

The Oxford AQAP notes that transport contributes nearly 70% of the NO2 pollution in Oxford, predominantly coming from diesel cars and buses. Oxford has calculated that they need to reduce traffic emissions by around 50% at the worst locations. They have developed two major schemes to tackle road traffic emissions and the dominance of the car on their roads: Oxfords Zero Emission Zone and Connecting Oxford. Both are being delivered in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council.

The Zero Emissions Zone aims to eliminate transport ‘tailpipe’ emissions in Oxford City Centre by 2035.

Connecting Oxford involves traffic restrictions around Oxford, in combination with new high frequency bus routes, safer walking and cycling routes. A Workplace Parking Levy will be applied to large employers, and the funds used to improve bus and cycling provision, and also give commuters discounts on bus fares and bike purchase. One key insight is that if traffic is reduced, there is no need for bus lanes, which can instead be used for segregated cycle lanes.

Oxford City Council also notes that “most of the measures in the Air Quality Action Plan, to improve local air quality, will also contribute to the Council’s plans to address the climate emergency.”

Latest News

Latest Events

Events

get involved

Help crowdfund

our projects

Latest news

about local air quality

Keep in touch

Concerned about air quality in Cheltenham?
Keep up to date with our news and campaigns and how you can get involved.

Contact Us