Air quality improves in Rainham and Gillingham as pollution labels removed
Air quality has improved so much in two parts of Medway that special pollution warning areas are being removed
Rainham High Street and Pier Road in Gillingham were designated as Air Quality Management Areas back in 2010, after levels of nitrogen dioxide were found to be above safe limits.
At the time, pollution levels were so high that some primary school children in Rainham were said to need inhalers.
Nitrogen dioxide readings reached more than 52 microgrammes per cubic metre in both locations, well above the legal limit of 40.
Since then, Medway Council has introduced a range of measures to reduce air pollution.
These include anti-idling schemes encouraging drivers to switch off engines, changes to road layouts to improve traffic flow, and work to support the use of cleaner vehicles such as electric taxis.
New data shows pollution levels have now fallen well below the legal limit.
Council leader Vince Maple said initiatives such as red routes and school streets had also helped reduce congestion and improve air quality.
He said keeping traffic moving and reducing idling vehicles made a real difference.
Councillor Alex Paterson said the council had taken the issue seriously and the results could not be denied.
He described the improvement as a “really good news story” but said work would continue in other areas of Medway.
Councillor Simon Curry said the progress followed around five years of work and was already leading to health benefits.
He said it was shocking that children had previously been affected by poor air quality and stressed the importance of continuing efforts to improve conditions elsewhere.
Under the law, Air Quality Management Areas must be removed if pollution levels stay below legal limits for five years.
Medway Council approved the removal of the two designations at its meeting on January 13.