15 March 2010
The Planning and Environment Department has released the results of an online survey which asked Islanders for their views on Jersey’s air quality. The results will help shape the priorities for the Air Quality Strategy Green Paper, which is due out for consultation in late spring 2010.
Assistant Minister Deputy Robert Duhamel said, “I would like to thank all those who took the time to respond to the survey. It is encouraging to note that respondents felt that their air quality was good or very good within their neighbourhood, but this is not an excuse for inaction. There are concerns around certain sources of pollution and there is a clear desire for regular information on air quality. The practicalities of addressing these issues will be covered in the Green Paper, which we hope people will engage in when it is released in late spring.”
The aim of the strategy is that everyone in Jersey should have access to outdoor air without significant risk to their health and that there should be no negative impacts from air pollutants on the environment of Jersey or our neighbours.
This survey marks the starting point for involving interested Islanders in the development of the Air Quality Strategy during the coming year. 86 responses were received and some very useful and clear messages have come out of this survey:
- just under two thirds of respondents felt that air quality was either good or very good in their neighbourhood
- the survey indicated a strong desire for regularly available local air quality information
- air quality was felt to rank of equal importance to other environmental issues such as water quality and climate change, as well as to noise, road safety and employment
- almost 90% of respondents felt that it was either very important or somewhat important to spend money on air quality to reduce risks for the environment and for health
- transport, in the form of existing cars, trucks and buses, and the Bellozanne municipal waste incinerator were perceived to be Jersey’s 2 major problems in terms of air pollution, followed by La Collette power station, aviation and new cars, buses and trucks
The results clearly highlight the need for any proposed actions and policies within the Air Quality Strategy to be completely integrated within the forthcoming Sustainable Transport Plan and vice versa. They also tie in with respondents’ views that stricter air quality standards for industry and stricter emissions standards for vehicles would be the 2 most effective strategies for tackling air pollution.
Any proposals to introduce further regulation would need to be backed up with a cost benefit analysis and this will be presented within the Green Paper for consultation.
gov.je