Following growing concerns from local residents about polution in the city, The Green administration is today proposing the creation of a Low Emissions Zone (LEZ) in the city centre to tackle air pollution from traffic.
LEZs, such as those in Oxford and London, restrict the most polluting vehicles from entering certain areas or streets in a bid to reduce pollution and encourage a shift to cleaner vehicles.
A Brighton & Hove LEZ would be developed specifically for the city in consultation with transport partners, the intention of which would be to set and work towards minimum standards in the city centre for fleet operators such as bus, taxi and delivery companies.
Cllr Ian Davey, Deputy Leader of the council and Chair of the city’s Transport Partnership, said:
“While air quality has finally improved across much of the city since 2010, after decades of previous neglect, Nitrogen Dioxide levels remain stubbornly high in some areas – particularly in the city centre.
“As we still face rising pollution in the city centre and the risk of huge EU fines being passed down by central government, it’s vital that we do something decisive, and do it now, to clean up the air we breathe.
“We’re keen to continue our work with all partners and bring forward improvements to vehicle emission standards by setting targets that are fair, challenging and achievable, and crucially, deal with the problem of air pollution in the city.”
Martin Harris Managing Director of Brighton & Hove Buses and a member of the Transport Partnership, said:
“Brighton & Hove Buses have been a positive contributor to air quality improvements through helping people switch from cars to public transport and through investment in cleaner bus engines and reduced bus emissions. We support the council’s objective of further improvement in air quality in the city centre and look forward to working together on a delivery plan that protects the environment and the interests of the users who make 44 million journeys by bus in the city each year.”
Residents and businesses in St James Street have been campaigning to have buses reduced or removed from St James Street where the council’s own figures show life expectancy from living in St James Street is 10 years less than living in Hove.
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