'Five practical policy changes' in the pipeline to improve air quality
The Urban Transport Group (UTG), which comprises the country’s seven largest transport authorities, has urged ministers to make some important changes to policy.
These changes, says UTG, should aid officers whose jobs involve developing and implementing air quality plans.
Key figures within the group sent a letter to the Joint Air Quality Unit — a task force that consists of the Department for Transport and the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs — demanding five important changes to policy:
that Highways England and Network Rail take responsibility for air pollution in urban areas and strive to develop clearer strategies for tackling these emissions
that the government implement Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004, which would enable local authorities to enforce moving traffic offences and therefore reducing idling and congestion
that key stakeholders devise a long term plan and secure consistent funding for making buses greener to run
that a strong leadership team devices a clear strategy for making public service vehicles — including refuse tracks, van fleets, and emergency response cars — more green to run
that the NHS becomes a part of the solution, instead of a “part of the problem,” by ensuring that bosses consult with transport authorities before making decisions on facility locations
Jonathan Bray, director of the UTG, explains that this set of demands complement the city region leaders’ demands regarding funding.
‘We believe that by making these relatively straight forward and common sense policy changes,” he adds, “government can provide vital assistance to those who are working at the sharp end of our efforts to reduce toxic emissions from urban transport as rapidly as possible.”
Written by Jasmin Collier