The Best Guide for the NN12 Area

Help us improve the air quality for South Northants

A 12-week consultation on the proposed plan opens this month (November 2020) and finishes on 1 February 2021.

Residents can now have their say on the Council’s vision for tackling air pollution in the district, with the opening of the consultation on the South Northants Air Quality Action Plan for 2021 to 2026.

The plan outlines the actions that South Northants Council (SNC) proposes to improve air quality for those who live and work in the district.

A 12-week consultation on the proposed plan opens this month (November 2020) and finishes on 1 February 2021.

Councillor Dermot Bambridge, SNC’s portfolio holder for environmental services said: “Air pollution is a serious issue that impacts us all, but the very old, young and unwell suffer the most.

“The proposed actions in our plan aim to reduce pollution levels in order to improve the quality of life, health, and welfare of our residents.”

SNC first produced an Air Quality Action Plan in 2008 as part of the Council’s statutory duties required by the Air Quality Management Framework.

Nitrogen dioxide levels have been coming down across South Northants over the past 10 years, thanks in part to actions put in place by SNC, which include working with the Highways Agency to address traffic congestion on the A5 and A43 and the installation of electric vehicle charging points within the district.

Cllr Bambridge went on to Say: “Technology and the future needs of the district have of course evolved, and we must consider these changes in order to continue reducing pollution levels and improving the air quality.

“SNC is working to get the Towcester relief road built and opened as soon as possible, as this will be highly significant in improving air quality in the area.”

SNC wants to hear your views, observations, opinions and ideas on improving air quality.

You can comment on the plan through the website, in writing or by email.

Copies of the draft Air Quality Action Plan can be found on our website www.southnorthants.gov.uk/consultation.

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Comments

JimmyB

At 17:29 on 24th November 2020, JimmyB commented:

I don't understand why SNC keep talking about the relief road as a cure for the A5 pollutions issues. Highways themselves have said it will take less than 10% of traffic away from the town and there will be no de-trunking to prevent HGV's coming through the town.

If you were a HGV driver would you take the direct straight route through the town or a longer route with 3 roundabouts? We have definitely been failed by Andrea Leadsom and the Conservative controlled SNC.

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Nick H

At 18:03 on 24th November 2020, Nick H commented:

Well I've done my bit, by providing evidence of vehicles parking on the hashed areas of the Market Square car park, which slows traffic flow through the town, which was a major concern during the original AQAP solution.

Replace the hashed areas in the car park with a small curb and posts, and it stops people blocking the A5 and improves traffic flow through the town, which was the propsed solution back in 2008, but with a different car park design.

The added advantage of the curbs and posts is it makes the car park safer for outdoor events too, like Christmas Carol Concerts and the like. Surely that has to be a good solution?

Nick Holder

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cm9cm9

At 20:53 on 24th November 2020, cm9cm9 commented:

If the plan is to reduce pollution by reducing traffic jams and thinks that will be achieved with the building of the Towcester relief road then it’s failed already!

Diverting traffic onto a longer route that is only going to result in dumping said traffic onto an already unacceptably congested A43 is only going to increase the length of time traffic is going to be jammed. It’s a double whammy - drive for further, thereby polluting the air for longer only to end up sitting in traffic for longer anyway.

Plus, it will add to the misery of the unfortunate drivers approaching Towcester from the south and effectively make prisoners of the villagers living along the route - genius!

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cm9cm9

At 20:53 on 24th November 2020, cm9cm9 commented:

If the plan is to reduce pollution by reducing traffic jams and thinks that will be achieved with the building of the Towcester relief road then it’s failed already!

Diverting traffic onto a longer route that is only going to result in dumping said traffic onto an already unacceptably congested A43 is only going to increase the length of time traffic is going to be jammed. It’s a double whammy - drive for further, thereby polluting the air for longer only to end up sitting in traffic for longer anyway.

Plus, it will add to the misery of the unfortunate drivers approaching Towcester from the south and effectively make prisoners of the villagers living along the route - genius!

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