Decision details

To obtain approval for the submission of a package of transport actions to Chesterfield Borough Council for its consideration and inclusion within an Action Plan to maintain air quality levels in accordance with National Air Quality objective level within the declared A619 Brimington Air Quality Management Area. Also, to approve the acceptance of a £30,000 contribution from the Chesterfield Borough Council Community Infrastructure Levy towards implementation of Action 1 as set out in this report.

That the Cabinet Member:
a)Approves the submission of the actions set out in this report to Chesterfield Borough Council to be considered for inclusion within the A619 Brimington Air Quality Management Area Action Plan.
b)Approves the acceptance of a £30,000 contribution from the Chesterfield Borough Council Community Infrastructure Levy towards implementation of Action 1.

To approve the Council’s proposed actions in accordance with the Council’s responsibilities in pursuit of the achievement of air quality standards and objectives within the A619 Brimington Air Quality Management Area.

A do-nothing option has not been considered given the Council’s duty to exercise its functions to achieve air quality objectives within the A619 Brimington AQMA. The Cabinet Member should note that should the Secretary of State consider that the Council has failed to discharge its duties under the Environment Act 1995 (as amended), the Secretary of State has the power to instruct the Council to undertake whatever directions it deems necessary to achieve air quality objectives.
Several other options have been considered and scoped out:
•Placing restrictions on heavy goods vehicles using the A619 Corridor has been scoped out due to the need for many heavy goods vehicles to access businesses along the corridor and the lack of suitable alternative routes.
•Pedestrianisation of Church Street has been scoped out because displaced traffic to other routes would displace air pollution issues to other locations.
•Removal of High Street traffic signals has been scoped out because there is a need to maintain good connectivity to the A619 for businesses and communities located near High Street.
•Replacement of pedestrian crossings with pedestrian bridges has been scoped out because of the significant infrastructure that would be required to provide bridges in accordance with accessibility standards.