A £1million project to improve air quality in Bolsover can get under way, including the installation of electric vehicle charging points and a school educational programme.
Bolsover District Council has been awarded Air Quality Grants from DEFRA totalling £975k to combat excessive amounts of harmful nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere as a result of the heavy traffic the runs through it on busy highways.
Addressing the authority’s executive in a meeting on Monday (December 5) member for environmental health Councillor Deborah Watson, said it was ‘good news’ for the entire district.
She explained there had originally been a governmental direction to improve the air quality along a small section of the A38, but this was found to be ineffective.
“It became widely understood that you were not going to be able to do that by improving the air quality just in that one location,” Coun Watson said.
“So this money, £975k, is to improve air quality throughout our district.”
£600k has been earmarked for the installation of electric vehicle charging points in council car parks, promoting the use of existing walking and cycling routes and a bike rental scheme.
The remaining £375k will be spent on a strategy that develops travel plans for businesses, educates on the links between transport, air quality and health, monitors air quality around schools and educates children in safe walking routes.
