Maidstone to take control of air quality on M20 area

26 March 2008

Maidstone Borough Council has declared an air quality management area covering the town and part of the M20 motorway.

The borough will be working with Kent County Council, the Highways Agency, and the local primary care trust to draw up an action plan to improve air quality following its latest review, which found three areas where quality needed to improve and nitrogen dioxide levels had to be reduced.

The council could have added the areas to existing designations of the M20 between junctions 6 and 7 as well as the bridge gyratory system in the town centre, but chose a wide area designation to deal with the town as a whole.

Cabinet member for the environment, Tony Harwood, said the designation was an important step towards improving air quality in the town. ‘It means innovative ways to improve air quality will be actively sought, planned for and co-ordinated,’ he said.

Leader of the council, Fran Wilson, said options could include improvements in public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure and more pedestrian areas.

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Maidstone to take control of air quality on M20 area

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