Hi [Councillor Julia Wakelam arrived at 5.20pm
during the consideration of this item, and prior to the vote taking
place.]
The Committee received report number
OAS/WS/22/016, which was requested by Councillors Diane Hind and
Julia Wakelam following updates on air quality and anti-idling
campaigns reported to the Committee on 11 November 2021.
Prior to this report being prepared, a scope
was agreed with Councillors Hind and Wakelam, attached at Appendix
A to this report, setting out key lines of enquiry; outcomes;
approach; information required; resources and support and timetable
and key dates.
The report contained detailed information on
air quality in West Suffolk; vehicle idling and air quality;
enforcement powers; a summary of anti-idling research and best
practice; West Suffolk enforcement implications and costs; existing
air quality actions; electric vehicles and options and
recommendations.
The Committee considered the report and the
options provided in detail and asked questions to which
comprehensive responses were provided.
In particular discussions were held on traffic systems, poorly
managed road works and the need for Highways to re-examine the flow
of traffic lights; education and more work needed on appropriate
idling signage and social media campaigns for example advertising
on buses, digital boards; omissions from electric vehicles via
their braking systems; raising air quality concerns with businesses
and Cambridge park and ride.
In response to a question raised by Councillor
Diane Hind relating to paragraph 2.4 of the report and the World
Health Organisation (WHO) targets, officers explained that the WHO
had revised their air quality targets, which included a number of
interim targets set as part of their guidelines. The Council had to meet the Department for
Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) law and explained that
it would be difficult for the Council to deviate outside of the
legal framework.
In response to a question raised regarding
taxis idling in Newmarket High Street, officers advised that the
Council had an Anti-Idling Policy and work had been carried out
with taxi drivers regarding idling.
However, if this had started again, officers would be happy to
revisit and provide advice to taxi drivers.
Councillor Julia Wakelam thanked officers for
the report. However, she felt the
evidence provided in the report was partial and not peer reviewed,
and every small reduction in pollution was a reduction. She understood the issues around costs for
implementing enforcement but stated that idling in St Johns Street,
Bury St Edmunds was an issue. She then
explained that she objected to the idling exemptions regarding
demisting windscreens. Councillor
Wakelam advised that she supported options 2 and 3 in the report
and suggested a small budget for school education.
In response the Environment Officer explained
that ten workshops at schools would be held in the Spring term in
2023 with Suffolk County Council and would be promoted nearer the
time. Work around idling had to be
proportionate against air quality.
Councillor Robert Everitt attended the meeting
as the Chair of the Bury St Edmunds Air Quality Residents Group and
wished to thank ...
view the full minutes text for item 196.