Councilors have proposed plans to introduce more electric charging points in the city amid growing air pollution.
Figures show that air pollution in York is currently among the highest in the country exceeding that of London and other major cities. In light of this York Council has decided to act.
Councillor Stephen Fenton sees the need for more electric charging points in the city as the key opportunity to reduce York’s pollution. In 2017 the government claimed that the NHS had spent £40m dealing with the issues caused by air pollution across the country.
With this in mind, he suggests that the council need to “make sure our local policies and infrastructure are ready to make a step change and help motorists feel more confident about making the switch to electric vehicles.”
He was also keen to add that the council should “take the opportunity to promote low or no emission vehicles across the city.”
Fellow Lib Dem councilor Ann Reid echoed the damaging impact that the rising air pollution is having nationally, “According to the Royal College of Physicians outdoor air pollution is contributing to roughly 40,000 early deaths each year.”
However, she was keen to add that on a local level the picture is looking more positive, with new schemes already underway.
NEWS: Some roads into York could be made off-limits to drivers as @CityofYork looks to clean up the city's polluted air. The World Health Organisation last month named York as one of the worst places in the country for air pollution
— BBC Radio York (@BBCYork) June 21, 2018
Back in August Vicky Thompson looked at the extent to which air pollution in the city was problem ‘Friends of the Earth has highlighted 15 areas in York that are breaching WHO limits for nitrogen dioxide emissions. What’s the solution?’
Friends of the Earth has highlighted 15 areas in York that are breaching WHO limits for nitrogen dioxide emissions. What's the solution? #York #FriendsOfTheEarth #greenparty #airpollutionhttps://t.co/BJdjmWaYFU
— Vicky Thompson (@vickytPress) August 5, 2018
“It’s important we take whatever action we can because all the small things do add up, the council is already doing excellent work with the introduction of electric buses and park and ride.
Councillor Reid was eager to suggest more ways in which the council could play a part in further improving the cities efforts to fight global warming and continue to be ‘proactive’ on the matter.
“However we can do more with introducing low emission vehicles and help provide the green infrastructure to support such vehicles.”
Green Councillor Andy D’Agorne looked to the growing success of electric vehicles with approximately 5,000 being registered every month across the country.
Other councilors followed the Lib Dems lead with Labour Councillor Jonny Crawshaw stressing the importance of addressing climate change as soon as possible, taking a small swipe at some of the other parties lack of interest on the matter “ that notorious hysterical left-wing religion – otherwise known as man-made climate change, which most people will accept is backed up by an overwhelming body of evidence.”