Together with colleagues from across the political divide, I'm calling on the Government to include a 'Clean Air Bill' in the Queen's Speech - as part of the 'Clean Air for All' Campaign.
I believe there is a need for a specific clean air act, which should have a similar impact on air quality as the landmark 1956 Clean Air Act, introduced in response to the 'Great Smog of London' in 1952.
Of particular importance is the need for ‘Clean Air Zones’ around schools, where all vehicles apart from buses would be banned from roads beside schools for an hour at the start/end of the school day - this would not only improve air quality, it would encourage more children to walk to school and should reduce the number of road accidents.
Across Adur and Worthing, action is being taken to improve air quality, from securing funding from Highways England to provide a rapid electric vehicle charge point at Lancing Manor on the A27, to working with Sustrans to draft a 'Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan', and many other schemes. I hope this bill will build on these plans and continue to make East Worthing and Shoreham a fantastic place to live and breathe!
