The Member of Parliament for Eastleigh, Mims Davies, has relayed her optimism that air quality proposals will be released following today’s Court Hearing on the subject. The Eastleigh MP had already this week delivered a letter to the Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Andrea Leadsom MP, asking that her Department's ‘Clean Air Plan’ is released as soon as possible.
Mims said:
“Although I appreciate the Department's decision to delay their ‘Clean Air Plan’, I shared the disappointment of many of my constituents, and met with the Secretary of State earlier this week to relay that both in person and on paper. In June 2016 DEFRA identified Southampton as one of five cities as an area most in need of action on air quality. In addition, there are three Air Quality Assessment (AQA) areas within my constituency including Hamble Lane, Botley Village and the centre of Eastleigh – directly outside of the Borough Council offices.”
“Fewer areas of policy can pose such a threat to the lives and wellbeing of the people within this country, and as such I have raised this area in the Commons Chamber several times since my election in 2015.”
“I know that my residents will want to see real action on the agenda and therefore asked for the DEFRA Secretary to inform me as to when she expects this document to be published.”
“Locally, I am delighted that Hampshire County Council have been taking this matter seriously and I am thrilled with the progress that they are now making towards delivering the Botley Bypass and tackling this significant air pollution hotspot. This initiative, that I have actively been involved with as the Member of Parliament, has progressed from a long standing complicated project with multiple stakeholders to its current position and is expected to go to planning this summer, with diggers likely to be on the ground in 2018.
Air pollution is an issue upon which the Conservative MP for Eastleigh has campaigned regularly since her election to the Commons, including raising concerns with the Lib Dem run Eastleigh Borough Council surrounding their own commitment to the issue just a month into taking the position.
In a letter to the Current Leader of Eastleigh Borough Council in June 2015, the Eastleigh MP said:
‘I am writing to express my deep concern about air quality in Eastleigh also highlighted by the sheer number of letters, emails and contact I have had from constituents about this daily blight on our area.’
‘The local Air Quality Management areas and the AQAPs clearly set out the need for urgent action to address air pollution on Hamble Lane, Botley High Street and in Eastleigh just outside your offices.’
‘Eastleigh Borough Council’s strategic priorities include definitive statements to safeguard our environment and support a healthy community. These are not being met by the current inaction and the most recent Air Quality monitoring report states that Eastleigh is exceeding the long term limit for Nitrogen Dioxide.’
Looking back at the letter and lack of progress Mims said:
“Eastleigh Borough Council has an important role to play in improving air quality across my constituency of Eastleigh, however, the only action they seem to be taking is seeking to concrete over our green spaces and destroy our ancient woodland. Getting together a workable well supported Local Plan which supports businesses and builds homes in the right places is the best thing that Eastleigh Borough Council can do to improve people’s daily lives.”
“It is absolutely vital that Eastleigh Borough Council, as well as the Department bring about visible action on air quality, and I will continue to call on both to do so.”