LGA responds to British Heart Foundation air pollution warning

13 Jan 2020 01:18 PM

Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s transport spokesman, responded to a warning by the British Heart Foundation that heart and circulatory disease deaths attributed to particulate matter air pollution could exceed 160,000 over the next decade in the UK 

“Councils are playing a key role in tackling air pollution and want to work with the Government to reduce the impact of harmful emissions on the health of our communities.

“For air quality plans to be successful, they need to be underpinned by local flexibility and sufficient funding, while issues around resourcing and capacity also need to be addressed. 

“Councils also need local powers to further tackle air pollution, particularly with regard to moving traffic offences and robust national action to help the country transition to low-emission vehicles and power generation.

“As air knows no boundaries, national accountability ultimately needs to sit with the Government.”

Report:  Heart attack and stroke deaths related to air pollution could exceed 160,000 by 2030