How Teignbridge is winning the battle for clean air

Teignbridge is winning the fight for clean air.

A report compiled by the district council shows that while previous surveys showed a number of pollution ‘hotspots’ across the area, the latest data reveals just two.
“Everyone’s a winner,” said Cllr Peter Williams (Lib Dem, Teignmouth East).
The council’s executive committee endorsed a new Air Quality Action Plan which stresses the importance of clean air to the health of the district’s 132,800 residents.
Nearly 20 years ago, four areas were identified as having high nitrogen dioxide levels – Iddesleigh Terrace, Dawlish; the A381 along Bitton Park Road in Teignmouth; the original A380 through Kingskerswell and an area covering the centres of Newton Abbot and Kingsteignton.
Now only Bitton Park Road and the Newton Abbot/Kingsteignton centres are ‘hotspots’.
Council leader Richard Keeling (Lib Dem, Chudleigh) said: “Air quality has improved in Newton Abbot greatly over the past five years.”
And Cllr Williams added: “We are going in the right direction. The air is cleaner.”
Planned measures to carry on the battle against pollution include improvements to public transport, more facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and a possible freight transfer area outside Newton Abbot to keep heavy lorries out of the town, with smaller vehicles bringing in goods instead.