Issue - meetings

The Senior Scientific Officer explained that the report outlined potential improvement measures to air quality, which could be implemented at Upper Stone Street.  An initial longlist of 28 measures had been distilled to form three options.  It was stated that, without intervention, pollution levels would not be compliant with statutory air quality objectives until 2028.  The three options were:

·  “Scenario 1 – Red Route” – the introduction of a Red Route restriction, preventing vehicles stopping on Palace Avenue, Lower Stone Street and Upper Stone Street.

·  “Scenario 2 – Cleaner and More Efficient Fleet Usage” – the implementation of plans to minimise the number of freight vehicle movements on Upper Stone Street, while simultaneously introducing lower emission vehicles.

·  “Scenario 3 – Charging Clean Air Zone” – the introduction of a Class B Charging Clean Air Zone (CAZ), by which a daily charge was levied on defined vehicle classes that did not meet prescribed emission standards

Officers confirmed that Scenario 2 was deliverable by Maidstone Borough Council (MBC), but that it benefitted from partnership working with Kent County Council (KCC).  Scenario 1 and 3 required partnership working with KCC and funding from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to implement.  The most effective option, Scenario 3, was likely to bring compliance with statutory air quality objectives forward by one year.

The Committee commented that:

·  Scenario 1 was a cost-effective solution that enhanced traffic flow and improved air quality.  However, any negative impact on businesses needed to be mitigated if this was implemented.

·  Scenario 3 potentially encouraged drivers to use routes other than Upper Stone Street, which was the official route for freight.

·  Options for planting street trees in Upper Stone Street, to improve air quality, were to be explored further as significant grants were available to implement this.

In response to questions from the Committee, Officers responded that:

·  The introduction of Scenario 1 was expected to improve air quality by 2-3%.

·  It was not clear how much money would be required for subsidies and retrofitting vehicles if Scenario 2 was pursued. It was likely that funding from Central Government was needed to implement this solution.

RESOLVED: That:

1.  The Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee note the findings of the report.

Voting: Unanimous

2.  The Director of Regeneration and Place assess the level of support from Kent County Council to implement Scenario 1 outlined in the report.

Voting: For – 5  Against – 1  Abstentions – 3

Note: Councillors Burton and McKay requested that their dissent be noted.

3.  A report be submitted to the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee, outlining the outcome of discussions with Kent County Council, by January 2020.

Voting: Unanimous

4.  This Committee instruct the Director of Regeneration and Place to investigate the scope for a planting scheme to mitigate the air quality in Upper Stone Street.

Voting: For – 8  Against – 1  Abstentions – 0