A RECORD number of residents took part in the consultation on Southampton’s proposed clean air zone.
Asking locals how they would like the city council to battle its pollution issue, 8,200 people gave their views during the 12 week period.
Now these responses, which is a record number for a consultation in Southampton, will be used to build a vision for how the clean air zone will look, says the council.
The survey, which ended on September 13, asked residents how they thought the zone would impact on the city, in both economic and environmental terms. They were allowed to give their views as multi-choice answers as well as written responses.
The consultation is part of Southampton City Council’s proposed city-wide clean air zone, which could charge certain commercial vehicles up to £100-a-day to enter.
The authority has been tasked by central government to reduce its nitrogen dioxide amount to the EU-imposed level of below 40 micrograms per cubic air metre by 2022. It is currently 42 micrograms.
Councillor Steve Leggett, the newly appointed cabinet member for Green City, said: “Clean air is vital to the health and wellbeing of people in the Southampton and the New Forest, and the response to the consultation shows the strength of feeling. Our shared priority is to reduce dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide to within legal limits in the shortest possible time.
“I’d like to thank local residents and organisations for taking the time to tell us what they think by coming along to our events, getting involved online and completing the survey. The important issue of air quality is a priority for this administration.”
During the three-month consultation period, more than 40 public events took place across the New Forest and Southampton to provide more detailed information.
The events also provided an opportunity for the public, as well as national and local organisations to ask questions and express their opinions about the proposed Clean Air Zone option.
Other initiatives that took place included a postcard, with details of the consultation, sent to more than 117,000 homes.
Outdoor promotion of the clean air zone consultation also included it being launched on National Clean Air Day June 21, and since then an array of billboards and roadside advertising, as well as radio and digital communications, were put out.
The council will now produce a report, which is expected to be released in November.
This article originally appeared on Daily Echo
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