There was a “significant” drop in air pollution in Newcastle last year
There was a “significant” drop in air pollution in Newcastle last year, according to a new report.
New data from Newcastle City Council shows a nine per cent fall in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in the city’s air from 2023 to 2024.
Local authority bosses hailed the results as proof that the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) tolls introduced in January 2023 are having a “positive impact”.
Under the CAZ, which was imposed in response to illegal levels of air pollution in certain Tyneside hotspots, some high-polluting vehicles charged daily tolls of up to £50 for driving through Newcastle city centre.
Despite the improvement, civic centre officials said that the CAZ would remain in force as there are still two areas where emissions exceed legal limits.
The worst spot in the city for air pollution remains close to the Corner House junction on the Coast Road.
A pollution sensor located at the junction of Stephenson Road and Jesmond Park West recorded an average NO2 level of 64.5 micrograms per cubic metre of air (μg/m3) in 2024, well above the legal maximum of 40.
However, there was a slight improvement there compared to the 67.1 μg/m3 recorded in the previous 12 months and the situation is notably better than in both 2022 and 2021, when average readings were over 92 μg/m3.
Council bosses have repeatedly argued that NO2 levels that people are exposed to in the residential parts of Stephenson Road, rather than at the roadside, are actually lower.
The only other street in the city with an average NO2 level above the legal maximum is Percy Street in the city centre, where separate monitors reported readings of 44 μg/m3 and 41.1 μg/m3.
By contrast, there were 48 locations around the city where the legal limit was exceeded in 2019.
Labour councillor Juna Sathian, the city council’s cabinet member for climate and transport, said: “I’m delighted that we are seeing a reduction in pollution levels across our city, which shows that the Clean Air Zone is having a positive impact on our air quality. As more people upgrade from older, more polluting vehicles to cleaner models with reduced emissions we hope to see even more improvements in the future.
“Poor air quality is linked to a number of serious health issues such as heart disease, cancer and breathing problems, including childhood asthma. It’s vital that we tackle this to protect people’s health and ensure they can live long, happy and active lives.
“These latest figures show that we are making important positive steps forward in achieving this but there are still further improvements needed.”
Older taxis, vans, buses, coaches and lorries that do not meet government emission standards face daily tolls of either £12.50 or £50 to enter the CAZ, though all private cars are exempt from the charges.
The council’s annual air quality report also states that pollution in a monitoring zone set up in Gosforth had been compliant with the legal NO2 level for five consecutive years and that the local authority will now “pursue its revocation”.
Civic centre bosses also said that an independent evaluation looking at the long-term trends in air quality and the impact of the CAZ is currently being produced.