Shropshire Council awarded funding to improve air quality in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth

The money, from the government’s Air Quality Grant, supports schemes to help councils develop and implement measures to benefit the health of those living, working and visiting our towns and local communities.

Shropshire Council has been awarded £53,300 to test low cost Zephyr monitors and develop an air pollution map. The Zephyr will be used to monitor nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulates (PM2.5). The data will be used to produce live air quality maps of Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth to highlight areas which require action helping decision makers balance the needs of air quality and the health of communities against other priorities.

More than £3 million of Government funding has been awarded to 28 innovative projects to improve air quality across councils in England.

Shropshire Council says it recognises the significant effect air pollution has on public health and is committed to meeting its statutory local air quality management duties under the Environment Act 1995.

Gwilym Butler, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for communities, place planning and regulatory services, said:

“We are delighted to have received DEFRA funding for our project. This work will not only help us towards fulfilling our statutory air quality management duties, but will also support the Shrewsbury Big Town Plan priorities for ‘Movement and Place’ which include making pedestrians priority in the town centre, cycle and pedestrian network and measures to reduce through traffic.”