LGA responds to new survey by the British Lung Foundation about air pollution monitoring

6 Oct 2016 09:58 AM

LGA says councils are playing a pivotal role in tackling air pollution, encouraging the use of electric vehicles with recharging points, promoting cycling, managing borough-wide air pollution monitoring networks, pioneering the concept of low-emission zones and engaging with businesses to increase awareness and reduce their environmental impact.

"Councils follow guidelines on monitoring air pollution which are laid down by central government. These are to take a risk-based approach – monitoring those locations where members of the public might be regularly exposed.  As well as schools this could also include residential properties, hospitals and care homes – depending on which area is at greatest risk. Many schools are actually some distance from busy roads and therefore unlikely to have high air pollution levels.

"The real issue is that councils need more powers to switch their focus from simply monitoring to devising solutions to tackle poor air quality. This needs to be supported by government policy at a national level."