Three areas in East Herts have been designated Air Quality Monitoring Areas (AQMAs), meaning air pollution is too high there: Hockerill Street in Bishop’s Stortford, Gascoyne Way and parts of the town centre in Hertford and London Road which runs through Sawbridgeworth.
Residents can use the new website to find current and historic data and can search for the levels of specific pollutants. They can also sign up for free alerts from the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire’s Air Pollution Alert System which sends updates straight to their phones.
Cllr Tim Hoskin, Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability, said, “We know that residents have a keen interest in the air quality of our district and so for the first time this new website gives them access to comprehensive up-to-date information that can help inform more sustainable travel decisions and reduce their carbon footprints.”
“As a council, we will use the same information reported by our air quality monitors to measure the impact of our interventions in AQMAs, also using it as a basis for future actions, as we strive to better understand and tackle air pollution.”
The website was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
For more information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus
