Cornwall Council is asking people in Launceston for their views on taking action to tackle the area’s air pollution.

The plan is to declare the town an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ which, says the council, is an important first step as it ensures there is an action plan and opens up funding opportunities. 

Councils are required to monitor air quality in their area against national targets and to declare areas with poor air quality as Air Quality Management Areas. 

Cornwall Council has been keeping an eye on Launceston’s levels of nitrogen dioxide, which comes from car and lorry exhaust, since 2016. 

This long-term monitoring has confirmed that the Newport area of the town, particularly St Thomas Road and Newport Square, has excessive levels of traffic-related nitrogen dioxide. 

Before the Air Quality Management Area is officially declared residents have an opportunity to get involved by sharing their views on air quality, the plans for the management area and its proposed boundary and any measures they would like to see included in the action plan.

The consultation period runs until December 8. There will be a public drop-in exhibition in Launceston Town Hall from 3pm-7pm on November 8.  Anyone can go to the exhibition or share their views by completing an online survey, emailing the Council on [email protected], posting their comments to the Council or handing them in at Launceston One Stop Shop in Bounsalls Lane.

There are eight other Air Quality Management Areas in Cornwall, which include Tideford.