Councils to have greater power on improving air quality

Councils are to have greater authority on determining ways to improve air quality in local towns, it has been said.

Environment secretary Caroline Spelman has stated that the government believes that shifting power from the central state to councils could help communities benefit from higher air quality.

A report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) stated: "Our aim must be to ensure local authorities have the tools they need to continue to play their key role in improving air quality."

Ms Spelman added that co-operation between councils' air quality and transport departments will be crucial in reducing pollution, with Defra saying that road transport was the biggest contributor towards carbon emission levels.

This could come as good news to Wiltshire Council after the Gazette and Herald reported last month that air quality in Marlborough had recently dropped as a result of a rise in toxic fumes.

Posted by Lauren Steadman