Agenda item

HCC Transport presented by Odette Carter – Transport Strategy and Programme Manager

O. Carter explained that she is on the Transport side not on Air Quality itself.

Cllr Timmis asked why there was no mention of Luton Airport which affects our area.

O. Carter said that this was not her area.

Cllr Taylor asked how people were going to be encouraged on to public transport and asked what was proposed to do this.

O. Carter replied that she replied that she felt the plans did focus on getting people out of their cars and onto public transport, giving an example as the . A414 corridor providing bus priority and cycle provision along the A414.

Cllr Anderson said that a lot of proposals were seen in the consultation that took place last Summer and he felt that it had counter productive proposals which could potentially make the problem worse, such as promoting the use of bicycles on a dual carriageway. Also there was a draft proposal about closing Kings Langley and Apsley railway stations which has since been ‘binned’. He added that he felt we need to focus on finding practical measures.

Cllr Birnie asked how flexible Highways were on local plans to ameliorate air pollution, particularly the Apsley and Durrants Hill blackspot.

O. Carter said that everything was at conceptl level at the moment and it could change.She added that in terms of local aspirations for changes there was still the ability to put forward schemes for consideration.

Cllr Ransley asked Whether Bucks County Council was consulted, and do whether we had as strategy with them.

O. Carter said that we did consult with them.

 Neil Polden presented the next part of the report for Dacorum Council Cllr Ransley asked a question regarding bus operators who run the old buses, she made the point that without those some parts of our district would be cut off and asked what suggestions there were for dealing with them.

N. Polden said that there may be opportunities to help fund this and that they may perhaps be able to prioritise the buses that travel through those areas, or there may have to be emissions standards put in place. He added that they are talking to the County Council about a whole suite of measures at the moment.

Cllr Birnie said that he felt the Achilles Heel in all of the plan is the Public Transport System.

Cllr Taylor asked a question about the monitoring tubes for air quality and why they were set at around 8 foot in the air which he felt was inappropriate. He also asked whether it was possible for the readings to be shared from 2016 to the present time.

N.Polden said that they can measure at  height  N. Polden also explained that they have to report annually to DEFRA and the report has to be reviewed and validated so due to pressure of work for DEFRA at the moment this information is only given out when a FOI (Freedom of Information) request is received and he confirmed that he would provide that to Cllr Taylor if he sent such a request.

Cllr Birnie then asked if this data could be made available to the committee.

E. Walker said that it could be submitted but it would not be validated.

There was a discussion about the electric charging point in the Water Gardens and it was felt it would be a good thing if it could be moved from the blue zone and that it was being looked into.

Cllr Timmis asked whether there are mobile monitoring units which could be utilised in the area she represents and added that she felt there should be independent monitoring of the air quality around Luton Airport.  Cllr Timmis wanted the impact that Luton Airport’s expansion would have on all the roads locally and she would like this to be recognised in the report.

N.Polden explained that the main cause of pollutant is the cars to and from to the airport, and he added that Luton Council produce reports pertaining to this and we can look at their data.He said that he would look at the guidance and the work done both by ourselves and Luton Council.  J. Doe added to this that we are monitoring the development of Luton Airport with Luton Council.

Cllr Anderson said that he was keen to investigate options that don’t penalise people who don’t have access to Public Transport.

Cllr Ransley asked how she could add another area to the three being looked at and N.Polden said that he would send an email to Cllr Ransley to try and set something up.

The report was noted.