Aberdeen announces new Air Quality Action Plan

Aberdeen City Council has announced it has developed a draft Air Quality Action Plan for 2010 in order to improve environmental standards across the city.

Earlier this week, the local authority confirmed the proposals will be put to public consultation in order to get opinions on the council's plans to improve the levels of toxic emissions in the area.

Part of the city centre was declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) in 2001 as high concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and other particles were found and in 2008 two more areas in Aberdeen were made AQMAs.

New proposals in the Air Quality Action Plan 2010 include measures to make public transport services better and encourage people to cycle and walk around the city in order to reduce traffic pollution.

It also set out plans to improve traffic management, redevelop roads and introduce a Low Emission Zone.

Earlier this month, Storrington in Sussex was made an AQMA due to an increase in pollution levels as a result of having as many as 18,000 vehicles travelling through the village every day, the Argus reported.

Posted by Lauren Steadman