Agenda item

The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services introduced the report and reminded the Committee that on 21 October 2021 the Guildford Joint Committee would receive a report recommending the declaration of an Air Quality Management Area in Guildford Town Centre.  In addition, the Committee was advised that the Council was working with National Highways and Surrey County Council to address the air quality breaches on the A3.

The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services indicated that the pandemic had impacted on progressing the air quality action plan measures. 

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change indicated that the Air Quality Strategy would be reviewed in the coming year.  He stated that the capacity of the Council to tackle the core issues of air quality was somewhat limited.

In reply to a question, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services confirmed that work on a new Air Quality Strategy would begin in 2022.

In response to questions on the A3 through Guildford, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services advised the meeting that a report on measures to address the air quality issues would be released by National Highways.  The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services confirmed that details of the worst polluting vehicles on the A3 through Guildford, along with vehicle journey information, would be included within the report.  Additionally, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services indicated the importance of a modal shift to electric vehicles.  The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change spoke of encouraging a behavioural shift to driving electric vehicles. 

The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services acknowledged that compliance with legal air quality limits on the A3 through Guildford was predicted to be some years away.  The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change indicated his support for immediate measures and interventions for the A3 providing they did not transfer the pollution elsewhere, but stated he was not aware of such measures.

A member of the Committee asked how high a priority the new park and ride on new A281 was in terms of air quality improvement.  With reference to the number of properties with exposures to air pollution exceedances in Shalford, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services stated that such a park and ride site had been discounted due to the time to implement such a scheme and a lack of funding.

In response to a question about the adequacy of monitoring points to establish the scale of the air quality problem in the Borough, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services explained the network of monitoring locations and its development and review.  The Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change indicated his confidence that the monitoring network had not missed any areas of exceedance.

With reference to query about an exceedance and a possible previous monitoring point near the Gyratory, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services requested further details to investigate the matter.

With reference to education in communities to change behaviour, and the designation of a theatre project tour of primary schools in 2020 as completed, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services confirmed that education was not viewed as a one-off exercise and advised the meeting of other organisations locally taking a lead on the issue, including the University of Surrey.

Members questioned the lack of action to tackle idling vehicles in the Borough.  The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services confirmed that her team had not been able to progress anti-vehicle idling plans and updated the meeting on actions taken by staff in parking.  The meeting was advised that during 2019-20 as part of a school watch initiative parking staff had moved on nearly 1,700 vehicles and issued over 200 fixed penalty notices at schools across the Borough with controlled parking zones.  The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services indicated that businesses were encouraged to help staff travel more sustainably. 

A member of the Committee advised the meeting of anti-idling signage erected by a supermarket in its Guildford car park and suggested the value of involving children in raising awareness of anti-idling.  The Head of Environment and Regulatory Services indicated that such proposals were included in the Council’s draft communications plan on air quality.

In reply to a question from a Committee member, the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services informed the meeting that the Council worked with Surrey County Council and National Highways on air quality issues and had spoken to Experience Guildford about the proposed air quality management area for Guildford town centre.

A member of the Committee asked for advice concerning the possible exposure of schoolchildren to air pollution at Onslow Infant School.  In reply, the meeting was advised that the Council had commissioned a report to establish if air quality breaches were likely at various sites, including Onslow Infant School, and that this report would be available shortly.  She also advised the member of the Committee that passive diffusion tubes to monitor air quality were to be installed at locations at Onslow Infant School.

The Chair thanked both the Head of Environment and Regulatory Services and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Councillor for Climate Change for attending and answering questions.

RESOLVED:  (I) That the air quality actions completed in the last 12 months and presented in the report submitted to the Committee be noted.

(II) That the proposed review of the Air Quality Strategy 2017-22 be endorsed.

(III) That monitoring of the Air Quality Strategy be continued by the Committee.