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Air pollution proposal: lacklustre

Maidstone Greens have criticised lacklustre proposals to tackle air pollution on Upper Stone Street. The proposals were discussed by Maidstone Borough Council on Wednesday evening and involve removing a tree, planting a hedge and preventing vehicles unloading on the street.

Stuart Jeffery, Maidstone Green Party: “We welcome the long awaited focus on Upper Stone Street’s air quality as the street is currently the second worst in the south east, but while the recommendations will help a little we are concerned that the council are tinkering at the edges of the problem and not tackling it head on. 

“We need to see the introduction of an Ultra Low Emission Zone, akin to that in London which has brought significant reductions to air pollution to the city and raised revenue for investment, investment that needs to be in alternative, greener forms of transport.

“We presented our radical plans to help get Maidstone moving while drastically reducing air pollution earlier this year. Sadly, as usual, the council remain behind the times on transport and meanwhile people continue to suffer.”

Notes:

https://wordpress.greenparty.org.uk/maidstone/wp-content/uploads/sites/98/2020/06/MGPTransportPlan2020.pdf

Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee Agenda 7/10/20