5 January 2016
Norwich Green Party councillors have expressed delight at the success of their campaign for cleaner buses in the city. The news that Norfolk County Council has been awarded £416,000 from the Government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund to retrofit 24 of the worst-polluting diesel buses will come as a welcome relief to local people concerned about the city’s high levels of pollution.
Norfolk County Council’s successful bid for funding followed a motion (1) by Green City Councillor Denise Carlo to Norwich City Council in September to tackle poor air quality and to work with local bus operators to meet stricter emissions standards for polluting diesel buses. Councillor Carlo recommended the preparation of a bid to Government to clean up local buses. Greens have also been gathering signatures on a petition for cleaner buses in the city.
The original Green motion aimed to achieve compliance with the highest EU standards, known as Euro VI, but an amendment proposed by Labour councillors reduced this to the more modest Euro V. However, the new funding will allow 24 buses run by First, Konect and Anglian to be brought almost in line with the Euro VI level, reducing dangerous nitrogen dioxide emissions by an estimated 100 tonnes a year.
Cllr Carlo said: “I am very pleased to see that our efforts to improve air quality in the city centre are already beginning to get results. This money will help clean up some of the worst-polluting buses in Norwich and, if the project is as successful as we hope, should bring them up to the Euro VI standard we have been campaigning for.
However, she also warned that there is still work to be done: “There are still buses at Euro III standard operating in Norwich which will not benefit, so we will continue to campaign for further improvements. We would also like to see the councils pilot ultra-low-emission vehicles, notably electric engines, for single decker buses.
“The situation in Castle Meadow should be greatly improved by this programme, but there are other areas of the city such as Riverside Road where nitrogen emissions are still too high. We are glad to see the county council has taken this first step towards better air quality, and Green councillors at city and county level will continue to push for more to be done.”
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Cllr Denise Carlo: 01603 504563
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
1. Text of motion from Full Council meeting, 29th September 2015: “Air pollution from road traffic is a serious public health issue. Public Health England estimate that in Norwich in 2010 5.5% of all deaths of people over 25 were associated with fine particulates from diesel vehicles. There may be additional local deaths attributable to nitrogen dioxide which have not been quantified.
In April, the Supreme Court ordered the government to produce a plan for cutting unlawful levels of air pollution. DEFRA has published consultation plans for tackling nitrogen dioxide, but responsibility for action largely falls on local authorities.
The draft Norwich Air Quality Action Plan (August 2015) covers the air quality management area in the city centre. The proposals need to go further, but action is also required to improve air quality across Greater Norwich.
Council therefore RESOLVES to ask cabinet to:-
a) respond to the government’s consultation and request stronger national action and also additional resources for local authorities for achieving healthy air quality;
b) work with transport and health providers to develop strategies and programmes for delivery with the aim of achieving healthy air quality in Greater Norwich;
c) work with transport partners and bus operators to achieve Euro 6 standard / ultra-low emissions for all buses within the next 5 years and to amend the Norwich Air Quality Action Plan accordingly.
