Lib Dems Call for Action on Air Quality

Air QualityTowcester Liberal Democrats have called on the government to tackle poor air quality and ensure vital pollution limits are not watered down post-Brexit.

This month marks the 60th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which was introduced in the 1950s to tackle deadly smog affecting UK cities.

In a letter to the new Secretary of State for the Environment Andrea Leadsom, the government is urged to ensure it follows through on EU agreements to tackle air pollution and enshrine essential limits into British law.

The letter emphasises that the government must not “betray the legacy of the Clean Air Act by allowing the UK to become the dirty man of Europe once again.”

Full text of the letter

The Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom MP

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

 

Dear Andrea

We write to you as both our local MP and in your new role as Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Earlier this month the Liberal Democrats wrote to your predecessor Liz Truss on the important issue of air quality. We are unashamedly using much of the text of that letter to highlight the issue again as it greatly affects Towcester, here in your own constituency.

This month marks the 60th anniversary since the Clean Air Act came into force, which did so much to reduce the deadly smog then afflicting cities across the UK. We are now faced with another crossroads in the fight for cleaner air, as the country prepares to leave the EU and potentially put vital pollution limits at risk.

As you know, Towcester suffers from air pollution caused by traffic, in particular HGVs, using the A5 through the centre of town. With a relief road still many years away, children, the elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions are all particularly vulnerable to the serious health impacts of such poor air quality. Towcester has schools, nurseries and retirement homes all in very close proximity to the A5. Air quality has been monitored in Towcester for many years but no action has been taken directly to improve air quality.

It is now time for a new Clean Air Act to take this fight to the next level and enshrine vital EU legislation into law. We’ve come far in the fight against air pollution in recent decades, but there remains much to be done. Air pollution is still linked to an estimated 40,000 early deaths each year in the UK. Thousands of children still go to school in areas with dangerously high levels of pollution, damaging lung development and causing higher rates of asthma. The young, elderly and people with respiratory and heart conditions are all particularly vulnerable to the serious health impacts of poor air quality. Many parts of the UK such as Towcester are still failing to meet EU limits for safe and healthy air. Yet despite this, DEFRA has halved local authority funding for tackling air pollution.

European wide legislation is crucial to ensure action is taken by governments to improve air quality. Air pollution crosses borders, with around 40% of harmful pollutants in the UK coming from elsewhere in Europe and much of our own pollution ending up abroad. A new EU agreement has been reached to cut deadly emissions is set to halve the number of premature deaths from air pollution in the EU by 2030. Yet this strong international framework risks coming undone by the UK’s departure from the EU.

We would urge you to ensure that in coming Brexit negotiations, the UK government follows through on EU agreements to tackle air pollution and enshrines essential limits into British law. Leaving the EU must not be used as a way to dilute vital air quality legislation. Please do not betray the legacy of the Clean Air Act by allowing the UK to become the dirty man of Europe once again.

Whatever happens in the coming years, the UK government must commit to making Britain a greener and healthier place to live – investing in electric vehicles, promoting energy efficiency, and encouraging green innovation – and continue to play its part in delivering cleaner air for future generations.

Yours sincerely,

Councillor Martin Johns

Towcester Town Council /                     

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Brook Ward

 

Councillor Chris Lofts

Towcester Town Council /

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Mill Ward /

County Councillor for Towcester & Roade

 

Councillor Lisa Samiotis

Towcester Town Council /                     

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Brook Ward

 

Councillor Catharine Tarbun

South Northamptonshire Council

Towcester Mill Ward

 

Councillor David Tarbun

Towcester Town Council

New Loos for Towcester?

Example of modern automated toilets

Councillor Chris Lofts and I have asked for the detailed costs for installing new public toilets in Towcester. Many people have expressed their concerns over the loss of public toilets in the town. Local businesses have also been angry that they have been expected to offer their facilities to no-paying customers.

The town council is to consider in September replacing the existing loos with new automated toilets, similar to those in Stony Stratford. These have proved popular with locals and have been free of vandalism and abuse. South Northamptonshire Council own the toilets in Towcester but like other services they have closed them and refused to pay for modernised facilities.

As with other services (school crossing patrols, street lighting, library services, youth services) our Tory run county and district councils are increasingly passing the buck onto the town council. Liberal Democrats believe that public toilets should be provided. Watch this space for Lib Dem action!