Whole borough to be declared AQMA to better track pollution (From Sutton Guardian)

Sutton Council consulting on plans to tighten up pollution monitoring

8:00am Tuesday 5th March 2013 in News By James Pepper

The whole borough is set to be declared an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) following criticism from environmental campaigners.

Friends of the Earth said in January it was surprised Sutton Council had not already named the whole borough an AQMA and it had missed out on funding to help tackle the "silent killer" of air pollution.

Currently Sutton has three air quality management areas in place around busy roads and the Beddington industrial area.

But with the new borough-wide AQMA, the council will now be able to apply stringent conditions to potential polluters.

The proposal has been sent out to consultation with residents, the Greater London Authority, the Environment Agency, DEFRA and neighbouring boroughs before coming into force on April 1.

Councillor Jill Whitehead, chairwoman of the Council's environment and neighbourhoods committee, said: "The health of residents is an absolute priority and we are absolutely committed to keeping a very close eye on levels of pollution."

Once the order has been made, the four current monitoring sites - which measure nitrogen dioxide and particulates - will soon be supplemented by a fifth on Beddington Lane near the Tramlink station.

If you wish to comment on this proposal or have any queries visit http://www.opinionsuite.com/sutton or contact the council’s air quality officer at eddie.stedman@sutton.gov.uk before 27 March 2013.