Halton Borough Council has launched a consultation on revoking the current air quality management areas in Widnes town centre.
The areas were declared in 2011 when traffic congestion in the town centre caused high levels of nitrogen dioxide. Since then a number of developments have resulted in a significant improvement in air quality these include improvements in vehicle emission technology and the opening of the Mersey Gateway Bridge in 2017 which reduced traffic congestion in Widnes town centre.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide are now consistently within UK legal limits of 40 µg/m3
There are currently two air quality management areas which include the Deacon Road, Albert Road and Peelhouse Lane area and the area around Milton Road and Simms Cross.
Although it is proposed that the air quality management areas will be revoked monitoring of air quality will continue across the borough.
The Council is inviting anyone who lives or works in the current air quality management areas to respond to the consultation.
The consultation, and more information on the air quality management areas, can be found at www.halton.gov.uk/AQMAconsultation
The results of the consultation will be reported to the Environment and Regeneration Policy and Performance Board and the final decision on whether to revoke the areas will be taken by the Executive Board.
The consultation is open until 7 June.
