Air Quality Action Plan
We all share the air that we breathe, and all have a role in improving air quality by the choices we make and the lifestyles we live.
When we breathe polluted air, pollutants enter our lungs and can then be exposed to our bloodstream. Air pollution can contribute to small annoyances like coughing or itchy eyes. It can also cause or worsen many diseases involving the lungs and breathing, leading to hospitalisations, cancers or even premature death with the first death from air pollution in the UK formally being recorded in 2013.
Over the last decade improvements in air quality have been recorded in the Dover District, but we know much more still needs to be done to create and sustain a clean and healthy district for everyone who lives, works, and visits our district.
Background
Local authorities have a duty to review and assess air quality in their area. Where air quality objectives set by the Government are exceeded, the local authority must designate all or part of its area as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). It must then prepare an AQAP setting out measures to improve air quality and meet the objectives.
Dover District Council has designated the below two areas of the district because of previous exceedances of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) air quality objectives. These AQMAs can be viewed here:
Dover District Council's first Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) was produced in 2007 and progress on measures set out within have been reported on within the council’s annual status reports. The latest report can be found here:
Public Consultation
Between the 15th of June and the 27th of July 2023 we hosted a public consultation on our draft AQAP.
Comments recieved through this process are now being analysed and considered in the preparation of the final document. The final AQAP document will then be reported to and considered at a Full Council meeting of Dover District councillors for approval.