Agenda item

The report seeks approval to submit the revised AQAP for Guildford Town Centre to the Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra).

RECOMMENDATIONS:

The Joint Committee (Guildford):

(i)    Noted the results of the public consultation carried out from 1 July 2022 to 3 August 2022 and any amendments to the Air Quality Action Plan.

(ii)   Approved and adopted the Air Quality Action Plan for Guildford Town Centre as shown in Appendix 2, subject to  amending table 5.1 in Appx 2 (item 8) to insert the words ‘to include potential improvements to the operation of Park & Ride services in support of this action’ in the comments column of Measure 20. If approved the final report will be submitted to the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for final approval.  

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:

To ensure that Guildford Borough Council meets its statutory duties to adopt an Air Quality Action Plan and to improve air quality within the Guildford Town Centre AQMA.

Declarations of Interest: None

Officers attending: Gary Durrant, Senior Specialist – Environmental Protection, Environment and Regulatory Services, Guildford Borough Council; Richard Homewood, Executive Head of Regulatory Services, Guildford and Waverley Borough Councils; and, by video link, William Bryans, Transport Studies Team Manager, Surrey County Council.

Petitions, Public Questions, Statements: None

Member Discussion – key points:

Mr Durrant introduced the report. He drew attention to the high level of response to the public consultation that had taken place during the summer – details of which were included in the annexes to the Committee report, and the complete set of responses were available on request if needed. The key primary action plan measures were listed in Table 5.1 in Appendix 2 and these would be the focus of efforts to achieve the required improvement in air quality. Feasibility studies would be needed to consider the potential impacts and implications of the suggested measures, and the importance of submitting the draft Action Plan to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was stressed, for their review and comments before feasibility studies could begin.

Officers acknowledged the support received from councillors and the current and previous GBC portfolio holder.

Members noted the inclusion of Park & Ride (P&R) on the list of primary measures, and discussion focused on the significant contribution P&R could make to the air quality improvements being sought, and frustration that the suggested timescale for improving the existing P&R offer seemed too long. Ideas including more smaller buses, longer hours of operation, and having a network of routes rather than out and back linear ones were put forward. Mr Bryans committed to taking the comments back to his colleagues at the County Council, and would also seek a response to the Chairman’s question about the situation regarding funding for P&R with respect to how SCC manages the parking now.

Reduced speed limits were raised. While it was recognised that SCC was more amenable to these now (20mph) residents were now looking at other initiatives such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs),Liveable Neighbourhoods, School Streets etc. It was noted that the prioritisation of Liveable Neighbourhoods would favour those districts and boroughs which have started to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which currently did not include Guildford, and the County Council should review its approach to this as these schemes can make a difference to air quality.

Mr Bryans would raise the issue with the Transport Policy Team.

The cost implications of adding more elements to the feasibility studies were acknowledged but there was no appetite among members for removing some proposed elements in order to include others since all the elements had been included in the public consultation. However, there was discussion about specifying P&R in the feasibility studies and an amendment to the recommendation in the officer report was proposed by the Chairman, seconded by Cllr Nagaty and agreed by members.

Resolved:

The Joint Committee (Guildford)

(i)    Noted the results of the public consultation carried out from 1 July 2022 to 3 August 2022 and any amendments to the Air Quality Action Plan.

(ii)   Approved and adopted the Air Quality Action Plan for Guildford Town Centre as shown in Appendix 2 for submission to DEFRA, subject to amending table 5.1 in Appendix 2 (item 8) to insert the words ‘to include potential improvements to the operation of Park & Ride services in support of this action’ in the comments column of Measure 20.

Reasons for Recommendations:

To ensure that Guildford Borough Council meets its statutory duties to adopt an Air Quality Action Plan and to improve air quality within the Guildford Town Centre AQMA.