Birmingham Clean Air Zone

Birmingham City Council proposes a Clean Air Zone for the city and lays plans to tackle the worsening air pollution in the region.

13:45 22 June 2018

Birmingham’s rapid economic growth comes with air pollution and its noxious effects on public health. It now has some of the highest rate of air pollution in the UK, causing up to 1,600 premature deaths each year in the West Midlands.

 

To tackle the problem, the Government, councils, universities, businesses and even residents are encouraged to build a coalition to lead the clean air agenda in the area.

 

Currently, HS2 and new rail stations are being built to create new rapid bus routes with newer, cleaner buses on the network. Train services are also being improved to ensure that people have other alternatives in how they travel around the region.

 

Residents have also proposed some measures to tackle air pollution in the region. Some of the best ideas include an urban national park around the Tame Valley in Birmingham or an urban green space similar to the New York Highline.

 

Automotive companies are also encouraged to transition to electric vehicles. Geely has already invested £300 million in building the new electric London taxi and electric vans in Coventry while GKN is investing heavily in the development of eAxle systems. Jaguar Land Rover has also recently announced its plans to spend hundreds of millions on their Solihull plant to prepare it for the electric vehicle revolution.