To seek approval of the Air Quality Action Plan developed as a result of revised air quality management area, following a public consultation.

That the Air Quality Action Plan attached at Appendix 3 to the report, be approved.

The council declared a new Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in Upper Stone Street, on 1 December 2022, because of exceedances of the annual mean objective for nitrogen dioxide. Officers were requested to conduct a public consultation on an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to address poor levels of air quality within the Air Quality Management Area. DEFRA requires the council to adopt the AQAP within 18 months of declaring the AQMA. The AQMA covers an area of Upper Stone Street in the High Street Ward stretching from Wrens Cross to Old Tovil Road. A copy of the AQMA order is appended to the report as Appendix 1.

The list of actions consulted on were developed by a Steering Group consisting of Local Ward Members, Planning Officers, Environmental Health Officers, and relevant KCC Officers. It should be noted that in previous years, many actions to improve air quality in Upper Stone Street have been considered, many of which were rejected due to cost, or the likelihood of simply displacing the problem to somewhere else.

The public consultation was conducted by the council’s engagement team between 28 November 2022 and 29 January 2022. A total of 471 responses were received in addition to a letter from Kent County Council (KCC). The consultation report provided by the consultation team is appended to the report as Appendix 2.

The actions that were consulted on were grouped into themes. A brief commentary on the responses received is provided below:-

Transport: the majority of respondents felt that the actions proposed were achievable. With the exception of the measure to improve the bus fleet operating in the Maidstone area, where less than half of the respondents believed that the actions would have more than a moderate impact on air quality, although the majority considered that they would have at least some impact.

Information and Education: the majority of respondents felt that all of the actions proposed were achievable. The exception to this was the action to promote and encourage changes to transport modes, which only 42% considered achievable. Most respondents considered that measures in this category would achieve some impact.

Miscellaneous measures: this section included a review and update of planning guidance and the continuation of sponsorship of walking to school schemes. The majority of respondents considered that these measures were achievable. Here most respondents thought that these measures would have some to slight impact.

Following the consultation, the results were discussed by the steering group and a number of actions were added to the action plan. Following adoption of the AQAP the steering group will meet quarterly for the life of the action plan to report progress on actions.

The amendments and actions added to the action plan are as follows:

Transport Theme

Additional action to explore the expansion of the additional parking restrictions currently in place on Upper Stone Street to other roads connected to it such as Palace Avenue and Knightrider Street.

Education and Awareness Theme

Additional action to prioritise promotion of the new digital resource aimed at raising awareness of Air Quality effects on health to GP’s and Public Health Professionals currently being developed using DEFRA funding. Re wording of measure 6 to specifically reference Pollution Patrol and place it at the core of our work with schools.

Miscellaneous Theme

Additional action to work with KCC to ensure that potential for appropriate and beneficial tree planting is completed on Upper Stone Street Additional action to identify and bid for any grant funding for suitable projects. Additional action to explore the use new and novel solutions that may be used to reduce the impact of pollution on Upper Stone Street.

Actions carried forward from previous action plan

The following actions have been carried forwards from the previous action as either no completed or being of an ongoing nature. Extension of Clean Air for Schools Scheme via continued roll out of Pollution Patrol Resource Anti Idling signage at suitable locations such as schools or identified problem areas Review of EV parking provision in MBC car parks Sponsorship of Kent Messenger Walk on Wednesday Scheme Beneficial and suitable tree planting on Upper Stone Street.

The matter has been considered by the Housing, Health and Environment Policy Advisory Committee on 10 October 2023 with a recommendation made to approve the air quality action plan.

Option 2. Do not adopt the Air Quality Action Plan. This option will mean that the council is in breach of its legal responsibilities under the local air quality regime. Any work to improve air quality will be unfocussed and there will be no obligation for partners to contribute to this work. This was not a recommended option.

Option 3. Make changes to the proposed action plan. This option will ensure that the council is compliant with the local air quality regime and will ensure that the council and partners are working to improve air quality. There is a risk that further exploration of additional actions will take the adoption of an Action Plan outside the 18 month period specified in the local air quality regime and delay implementation of actions to improve air quality. This was not a recommended option.

The options above were rejected as the proposed actions have been subject to public consultation, with the action plan having been produced for the agreed air quality management area. The results of the consultation have been considered and discussed in detail by a steering group made up MBC officers, external partners and elected representatives, followed by Cabinet consideration.