DEPARTMENT FOR
ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release (38/09) issued by
COI News Distribution Service. 19 February 2009
The Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has today issued
revised guidance to all local authorities on managing air quality.
Local authorities can use this guidance when assessing and
implementing measures to improve air quality in their area.
The practice guidance includes information on:
* principles for the assessment of local measures to improve air quality;
* low emission zones (including examples of where these have been
successfully introduced);
* measures to encourage the uptake of low emission vehicles (a
measure in the UK Air Quality Strategy 2007); and
* measures to encourage the uptake of retro fitted abatement
equipment to vehicles.
Environment Minister Lord Hunt has written to all local
authorities in England expressing the important role they play in
helping to improve local air quality and in working towards the
achievement of the UK's air quality objectives and its
obligations in meeting EU air quality limit values.
The revised policy guidance and new practice guidance documents
apply to local authorities in England and can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/airquality/local/guidance/index.htm
The devolved administrations in Scotland, Northern Ireland and
Wales are preparing their own policy and practice guidance for
their local authorities.
The revised technical guidance is available to all UK local
authorities.
All local authorities have a duty to manage air
quality under the Environment Act 1995.
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
Press notices are available on
our website
http://www.defra.gov.uk
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