News Release
Maidstone’s air quality set to improve
Air quality in Maidstone is
set to improve. Maidstone Borough Council has declared an Air
Quality Management Area covering all of the town and the M20
Motorway between junction 6, Maidstone Central and Junction 8,
Hollingbourne.
Cabinet Member for the Environment, Tony
Harwood explains: “All major towns in the UK face similar problems
but Maidstone is going to do something positive to improve its air
quality. This designation is an important step towards
improving air quality in our town. It means that innovative
ways to improve air quality will be actively sought, planned for
and coordinated. An action plan will now be prepared to
address the causes and improve the air quality in Maidstone.”
The action plan will involve Kent County
Council as the highway authority, the Highways Agency, Primary Care
Trust and Maidstone council.
The Leader of the Council, Fran Wilson, says:
“Maidstone isn’t London so we won’t have to consider congestion
charging. There are lots of options to improve air quality
which can improve the environment for our residents and our
thriving business community. These could include improvements
in public transport and the sustainable transport infrastructure,
and perhaps more pedestrian areas.”
The council is already working with its
partners to improve air quality. “Working with KCC we have
already persuaded the Highway’s Agency of the case for a Controlled
Motorway on the M20 through Maidstone between junctions 5 and
7. When it comes into force, next year, it will reduce
pollution along the motorway, throughout the town;” said Cllr
Harwood.
The council made the designation following its
latest review of air quality in the town which found three new
areas where air quality should be improved. Fountain Lane at
its junction with Tonbridge Road, Well Road and the Loose
Road/Sutton Road junction all require action to reduce Nitrogen
Dioxide levels from motor vehicles.
The council could have added these areas to
the existing designations of the M20 between junctions 6 and 7 and
the bridge gyratory system in the town centre but chose a wide area
designation to deal with the town as a whole; to improve air
quality throughout Maidstone.
Date:
13 March 2008
Reference:
RJA/080307