Concerns remain over parts of city despite air quality improvements

THREE AREAS of York are still failing to meet air quality targets despite improvements being made across the city.

Parts of the city centre, Fulford and Salisbury Terrace continue to breach the targets, although York Council says falling particulate and nitrogen dioxide levels should alleviate some of the concerns.

Nitrogen dioxide levels across the city fell last year according to data taken from 340 monitoring stations in York.

York Council’s executive member for the environment, Coun Andrew Waller, said: “While this report is very encouraging, we must continue working to improve air quality levels at key locations so that we can start to reduce the numbers of areas of the city under Air Quality Management Areas.

“The policy is to target the vehicles which cause a disproportionate amount of air pollution, and to encourage a switch to electric or hybrid vehicles.”

The council says it is working with bus operators on plans for a clean air zone in the city centre and on a campaign urging drivers not to leave their engines running.

The authority has already brought in measures designed to encourage taxi drivers to use vehicles which pollute less and promised to expand the network of charging facilities for electric vehicles as well as giving council staff access to a pool of low emission cars.

The council was recently given a £816,000 grant to fund new electric charging hubs as well as a £308,000 grant to retro-fit 28 school buses with exhaust emission reduction technology to tackle air pollution.