Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services on the Air Quality Action Plan.

The Group had before it and NOTED a *report from the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services regarding the Air Quality Action Plan.

Discussion took place regarding the actions and progress which had been achieved in the preceding 12 months.

With regard to Crediton he explained that the focus was on the current traffic management system and although the link road had helped with air quality on Exeter Road it had little effect on the High Street. He further explained that a project, led by the Town Council and supported by MDDC was looking a specific measures to reduce pollution in the High Street.

In response to a question about the speed of actual action being taken he explained that previously MDDC did not have the buy in from the Town Council and there was a lot of local objection to measures proposed. This had been resolved and now that the Town Council was on board and the S106 funding had been secured he was confident that the measures proposed would make a difference.

With regard to Cullompton the Group Manager for Public Health and Regulatory Services explained that the key measure would be the relief road and that the public consultation had recently been completed. The next steps were to analyse the responses. He further explained that the initial bid for funding had been submitted and accepted by Homes England and they were now looking at the bid for due diligence.

Consideration was given to the air quality levels in Cullompton and the views of Ward Members, it was explained that although the levels were below the safe limit they were running very close to dangerous levels and action was needed to ensure that the levels remained at acceptable levels.

The Group requested that an update on the measures proposed for Crediton be reported back to the PDG at the March 2019 meeting.

Note: - *Report previously circulated and attached to the minutes.