Portsmouth’s air quality is among the worst in the UK,
with pollution levels in continuous breach of both legal limits
specified in the EU Air Quality Directive, English law and World
Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
In February 2018 the High Court ruled the Government's plans to
reduce air pollution are inadequate and unlawful. The Court
explained that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA) 2017 Air Quality Plan does not contain sufficient
measures for 33 local authority areas to ensure substantive
compliance with the Article 13 of Directive 2008/50/EC and
Regulation 26 of the English Regulations (the Air Quality Standards
Regulations 2010 (2010/1001)). Portsmouth is one of those 33 local
authorities.
The Royal College of Physicians reported that Portsmouth is in the
upper half of the 33 UK cities where small particulate pollution
(PM2.5) exceeds WHO safe limits. Public Health England
estimated annual mortality of 95 deaths in Portsmouth from small
particulates such as emitted by diesel vehicles; to which must be
added a significant but as-yet unquantified mortality from nitrogen
oxides (NOX) and other pollutants.
The Department of Health has identified air pollution as one of
the biggest public health risks nationally. The most immediate
action is tackling nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations around
roads - a statutory air quality limit value that many UK cities are
failing to meet. DEFRA's analysis has suggested that exposure
to nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has an effect on national mortality
"equivalent to 23,500 deaths" every year. Portsmouth shares in
that death toll.
Pollution has not appreciably decreased in the last 5 years.
Portsmouth faces potentially worsening pollution from the new city
centre road and Eastern Road schemes. Further road capacity
increases should be avoided unless air pollution modelling shows
the traffic schemes enable Portsmouth to quickly become compliant,
and unequivocally demonstrates that residents’ health and
life expectancy will not be compromised by increased congestion.
Despite publication of the Council’s Air Quality Strategy in
June 2017, which is sadly unambitious and lacking specifics, the
draft action plan setting out how safe air quality levels will be
met is not yet released for consultation and no timeline has been
given on when this will be available. To ensure compliance, the
action plan should include implementation timetables, estimates of
improved air quality to follow, and indication of the expected time
required to attain the objectives.
We urgently need better solutions to address traffic pollution in
the city. Not just around tourist areas such as Gunwharf Quays, but
including Fratton Road, Kingston Road and London Road where
residents live, work and learn. Consultation on the draft plan will
ensure all residents can have their say.
One key measure to reduce traffic pollution is provision of
alternatives to car travel, including improved walking, cycling and
public transport. Every day that passes is one too many for those
vulnerable to dirty air, we need urgent delivery of an Action Plan
supported by local residents to ensure it is within legal limits
and safe for pedestrians, cyclists and children walking to
school.
This ePetition ran from 04/05/2018 to 26/06/2018 and has now finished.
1125 people signed this ePetition.
See Administration's response from the 10th July 2018 full Council meeting at: