Improvements needed to Medway’s air quality
AW
by Alan Wells
8 Apr 2019
Medway's poor air quality can have a big impact on our health and well-being. Medway Liberal Democrats are calling on the council to do more to promote cleaner air in the Medway towns. To do more to encourage people to use public transport, or to travel by bike or on foot and to investigate how it can make our bus services more affordable, especially for families travelling together, where a return ticket to Chatham could cost over £10. There should be an arrangement between Medway Council and bus providers in the Towns to promote green transport methods.
The Air Quality Annual Status Report states that the Towns major roads and congestion are the main sources of air pollution. Medway Council needs to promote its existing Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to address pollution in the region by encouraging people to use public transport, supporting sustainable development, and promoting eco-driving and car sharing.
Our roads need to be more inviting to cycling, with more repairs to potholes, new cycle lanes and secure bike parking in our town centres. Liberal Democrats strongly favour a pro-cycling policy and the need for more secure cycle parking and cycle paths across the towns. As traffic congestion account to Medway's emissions each year, cycling during peak hours would contribute to further emission reductions by reducing congestion and improving traffic flow across Medway. Martin Rose, Prospective Liberal Democrat Candidate for Watling Ward states - "planning should promote the benefits both health and economic of integrating cycling into the surrounding environment".
We also need to encourage more use of safe drop-off points for personal deliveries to reduce the number of van trips on our main roads and quiet residential streets. The council should investigate grants from the Government and other funding agencies for electric vehicle charging points. This would help encourage the up-take of electric vehicles and improve our air quality.
Medway Council should be leading the way to improve environmental standards in the Medway Towns by promoting sensible policies. A Liberal Democrat controlled Council would invest in infrastructure in Medway to improve air quality around our towns