East Suffolk Council is 'Taking action' to improve air quality
Air quality monitoring carried out annually by East Suffolk Council recorded falling nitrogen dioxide levels across the district last year.
Working with partners, East Suffolk is developing an air quality strategy for the next five years.
Cllr Sally Noble, East Suffolk Council cabinet member for the Environment said: “Air pollution has the potential to damage the environment and adversely affect health, impacting on our wellbeing and bringing with it a cost to society.
“Like the rest of the UK, in East Suffolk, sources originating from human activity include emissions from transport and fine dust or particles from domestic burning. It is encouraging to see that changes in technology and behaviour are having a positive impact on air quality."
In 2024, levels were monitored at 94 sites, covering 27 locations in East Suffolk, including 11 positioned outside primary schools as part of an education campaign, with each site assessed periodically to ensure a full and accurate picture across the district.
It coincides with East Suffolk Council inviting members of the public to help shape its updated Air Quality Strategy by sharing their priorities for tackling air pollution and further improving our environment.
The results of public engagement conducted in March, via online poll, will go on to help inform the updated strategy due for Cabinet approval later in the year.
In June, East Suffolk Council received £2.8million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme, run by Salix on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, towards a £4.8m plan to upgrade and decarbonise three of the district’s leisure centres – helping the Council take a major step towards its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
They say work with the Suffolk Air Quality Network will continue throughout 2025.