Proposed new powers for Local Authorities to combat non-transport related pollution
On 13th September, Amendment 55 to the Environment Bill was debated in Parliament. Although the Environment Bill includes new air quality obligations for local authorities, it doesn’t currently provide Councils with any new regulatory powers to combat non-transport related pollution.
The amendment, put forward by the City of London Corporation and London Councils, and backed by the Green Party’s Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb and Clean Air in London, proposes powers that would allow Councils to designate an area within its borders as an ‘Air Quality Improvement Area’ in their most polluted zones, where levels of air pollution exceed national targets or WHO air quality guidelines.
In these areas, the governing bodies would be given powers to apply a range of restrictions to be set out in new Regulations to be made by the Secretary of State. This could include restrictions which would limit the use of the most polluting plant, such as gas boilers, solid fuel boilers, combined heat cooling and power plant, and stationary generators.