Warning over Brighton and Hove's toxic air

A call for action over the city’s poor air quality was made on Clean Air Day today (June 20) by the city’s Green councillors.
Cllr Amy HeleyCllr Amy Heley
Cllr Amy Heley

The Greens said slow progress on air pollution is putting residents’ health at risk.

Toxic air hotspots in the city include Queens Road, Western Road and Rottingdean High Street, which each routinely breach UK and EU limits for nitrogen dioxide, the Greens said.

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And Brighton and Hove has been named one of 40 UK cities and towns listed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as breaching safe air pollution limits.

Green councillor Amy Heley is to call for ‘urgent change’ at the next meeting of the council’s environment, transport and sustainability committee.

Councillor Heley said: “We are facing a climate emergency, and Brighton and Hove Council needs to take urgent action to tackle air pollution.

“Brighton and Hove is one of the worst affected: in parts of the city, we are breaching toxic air pollution limits and our residents are the ones who suffer as well as the environment.

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“Around the world, Clean Air Day offers us an opportunity to focus on this vital issue – but once again too little has changed.

“We are asking for urgent action on toxic pollution and for the Labour Council to work with us to bring about positive improvements to our city’s air quality.

“Given the acute health problems that result from exposure to toxic air and the urgency of the climate crisis, slow progress is unacceptable. Following our climate emergency declaration, we will push for strong action on toxic air, including our own response to Clean Air Day.”

The Greens said Government reports indicate that around 40,000 people die each year as a result of air pollution in the UK.

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