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Air Pollution: Kent

Answer

Air pollution is reducing in the UK, as set out in the annual National Statistics report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/air-quality-statistics

There are 169 national automatic monitoring stations in the UK, of which 2 stations are in Medway. Chatham Roadside measures hourly concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5); Rochester Stoke measures concentrations of ozone and sulphur dioxide in addition to these pollutants. Near real-time measurements from these sites and further data tools can be found on the UK-AIR website (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/).

There are no national automatic monitoring stations in Tonbridge and Malling or Maidstone.

All local authorities also carry out their own air quality monitoring activities and produce annual status reports on air quality within the local authority boundaries.

Each of the local authorities has air quality management areas which can be found online at https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/aqma/maps

Councils have statutory duties to tackle air pollution and already have considerable powers.

Defra’s Air Quality Grant Programme provides funding to local authorities for projects in local communities to tackle air pollution and reduce emissions. The scheme has awarded over £60 million in funding to a variety of projects since it started in 1997 and over £3 million will be awarded this year.

We will bring forward provisions on air quality in 2019 in the forthcoming Environment Bill.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

275175

Session

2017-19

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Air pollution Kent

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk