Potential new ways to improve air quality in Durham City are to be explored.
Following public consultation Durham County Council has established an action plan to improve air quality in Durham City.
After considering all the feedback from last year’s consultation process the three new actions have now been added to the plan.
These will see work carried out into the viability of: giving low polluting vehicles reduced rates for residential parking permits; and extending park and ride routes and/or creating additional park and ride sites.
Options for additional highway infrastructure will also be explored, with a view to potentially removing traffic from the city centre.
Joanne Waller, the council’s head of environment, health and consumer protection, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who provided feedback during our consultation last year.
“We saw a great response and the comments have helped shape the final air quality action plan.
“We know that serious action is needed to tackle air quality pollution and improvements in the plan such as upgrading all the buses on the park and ride to meet European specifications and the work which is ongoing to modify both Leazes Bowl and Gilesgate roundabouts, to smooth the flow of traffic through the city has already begun.
“It’s understandable that people may worry when they hear about air quality issues, but with the work that is already happening and the future actions, we are confident we can reduce pollution in Durham City.”
The council was required to establish an Air Quality Action Plan after parts of Durham City were declared an Air Quality Management Area in 2011.
This was due to increased levels of nitrogen dioxide, which comes from vehicle exhausts.
Air quality pollutant issues are common in cities and large towns, with over 600 management areas across the UK.
The Durham area was extended in 2014 to include parts of the West of the city after nitrogen dioxide levels increased there.
The plan features a total of 15 actions that, when implemented, will improve air quality across the city.
It can be found online at www.durham.gov.uk/airquality