Council's air quality improvement plan is approved

A council's plan to improve air quality has been approved by the government.

West Northamptonshire Council resubmitted its Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) following input from more than 1,000 members of the public in an effort to reduce pollution.

Demonstrators distributed 102 mock death certificates - symbolising fatalities linked to toxic air - during one of the recent protests at council meetings over the issue.

Matt Golby, the council's Conservative deputy leader, said the approval was "great news".

"We can continue to move forward with our efforts to reduce pollution across the area to make our environment cleaner and healthier for local communities," he said.

Analysis by the Housefresh website in 2022 concluded that people in Northampton inhaled the equivalent of 189 cigarettes per year, more than any other city in the UK.

The council said it would look to conduct research into domestic fuel burning habits and that it had secured funding to raise awareness about the air pollution caused by other fuel burning types.

About 1.5 million UK households use wood for fuel, according to government statistics on air pollution.

Additionally, the council plans to advance a strategy to improve electric vehicle infrastructure across the area.

Mr Golby added: "Although levels across West Northants generally fall within government limits, we know there is more work to be done.

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