Let's clear the air together

Have your say by Monday 15th October

The Council invited everyone who uses roads, cycleways and footpaths in Fareham to have a say on how best to protect air quality in Fareham.  Our Let's Clear the Air Consultation closed on Monday 15th October. You can find out what our aims are here.

Background

Air quality is a national issue and, in July 2017, Fareham Borough Council was identified as one of 23 local authorities that must produce a targeted local plan to tackle likely exceedances of Nitrogen Dioxide Levels.

We've been working hard to come up with a range of measures to keep our air clean but would like your help to shape our proposals.  We believe that, by working together, we will continue to have good air quality across the Borough now and for years to come.

Areas identified

The area most likely to be affected by nitrogen dioxide levels exists along the stretch of road from Delme roundabout through Eastern and Western Way and onto the A27 by Fareham Train station, including the A32 Market Quay through and onto the A27 Portchester Road.

Results

Most respondents who took part live in this survey were from Fareham Borough and Gosport. There were 1120 respondents in total.

There were 11 proposed measures which made up the Let's Clear the Air consultation and the public were in support of 9 of the 11 measures. The Business Engagement proposal and the Charging within a Clean Air Zone were the measures that did not receive support.

The latest evidence now suggests that there is one location within the study area that will exceed EU limits in 2020.  Therefore, the focus of the project is now on achieving a small reduction of nitrogen dioxide during 2019 to ensure compliance is reached in 2020. Of the measures consulted on, 7 of the 11 could not be delivered in time for 2020.

Taking this into account, the Council is now seeking funding from the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) for 4 of the measure supported during the consultation:

• Providing better infrastructure and encouraging residents to walk and cycle;
• Real time information (RTI) on bus stops encouraging greater use of buses;
• Improvements to traffic signals on Market Quay;
• A scheme to encourage Fareham taxis to change from older diesel vehicles to newer cleaner vehicles.

The taxi scheme will be delivered by Fareham Borough Council and the other three measures will be co-ordinated by Hampshire County Council.