Derby City Council are asking local residents, businesses and stakeholders to comment on proposals to tackle air quality in the city.

The Council has been liaising with DEFRA since December 2015, after being informed that Derby was one of five local authority areas selected to take forward action to reduce Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) emissions from vehicles, in the shortest possible time.

Proposals have been drawn up which set out three options, that include a package of measures:

Option 1: the preferred option (based on current data and modelling)

  • This focuses on changing traffic signals and re-routing traffic away from the one area of exceedance – Stafford Street.
  • A very specific incentive scheme to rapidly support change of vehicles
  • Initiatives to implement electric vehicle power points
  • Continue to support sustainable travel, e.g. e-bike scheme, investment in cycle route upgrades, promote walking, etc.

Option 2:

  • This involves a Clean Air Zone with charges for all non-compliant vehicles entering the city centre (inner ring road)
  • This would also involve some minor traffic signal changes
  • Again there would need to be an incentive scheme to support change of vehicles
  • This scheme would also be supported by sustainable travel measures

Option 3: This is a ‘benchmark scheme’ that the Council is required to develop as part of the government process.

  • This involves a Clean Air Zone with charges for all non-compliant vehicles – the boundary for this would be the outer ring road.
  • Some version of the measures in option two would also be required as part of the full package.

Councillor Matthew Holmes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Leadership, Regeneration and Public Protection said:

We have made it our priority to reduce pollution levels and improve air quality in the city. Since taking control of the council and inheriting this issue, officers have had to work very hard to prepare options for consultation to ensure we are working towards a legally compliant package of measures. We all have a part to play in achieving cleaner air for Derby and I encourage residents, local businesses and stakeholders to take part in the consultation to help inform the best local solution for our city.

The consultation is open from 3.00pm today, Monday 30th July, and will close at midnight on Monday 24th September.  The best way to respond to this consultation is online at derby.gov.uk/airquality where you will also find a number of supporting documents with more information.  Paper copies are also available from the Council House and in libraries, or you can email air.quality@derby.gov.uk

The Council will consider all responses to the consultation, which will help inform our future decisions and ensure that we get the best local solution, which also meets our legal requirements.