That:

1)        the areas in Wokingham Town Centre and Twyford Town Centre, as identified on Plans 1 and 2 as set out in the report, be designated as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) under Section 83(1) of the Environmental Act 1995;

2)        the spend as profiled in the financial information section of the report be agreed;

3)        an Action Plan be developed to manage the Air Quality Management Area within 12-18 months of the designation.

The Executive considered a report on the designation of two new air quality management areas i.e. Wokingham and Twyford town centres. 

The Executive Member for Resident Services advised the meeting that both these areas had been identified as having elevated levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂₎ which was slightly over the maximum requirement set out by the Environmental Act 1995.  These findings had triggered a Detailed Assessment and the Council had a statutory requirement to designate these areas as Air Quality Management Areas which would allow the development and implementation of a mitigation strategy (Action Plan) to improve air quality in these areas.

RESOLVED that:

1)        the areas in Wokingham Town Centre and Twyford Town Centre, as identified on Plans 1 and 2 as set out in the report, be designated as Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) under Section 83(1) of the Environmental Act 1995;

2)        the spend as profiled in the financial information section of the report be agreed;

3)        that an Action Plan be developed to manage the Air Quality Management Area within 12-18 months of the designation.