Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive providing a Public Health Perspective of Air Quality in Southampton, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive providing a Public Health Perspective of Air Quality in Southampton.

Debbie Chase, Consultant in Public Health, Southampton City Council, provided a presentation on the public health perspective of air quality in the City and further evidence was given from the draft findings of a Health Impact Assessment of air pollution in Southampton (attached as Appendix two to the report) by Fiona Davey, University of Southampton.  Key areas included:

·  impact of air pollution on health;

·  the impact for Southampton in particular;

·  Mortality and Particulate Air Pollution in Southampton;

·  respiratory and cardio vascular health and air quality – in particular the connection with asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD);

·  Air Quality Management Areas in the City;

·  where improvements could be made taking into consideration what was being done already.

It was reported that impacts for the City of poor air quality included increased hospital admissions and deaths from respiratory and heart conditions.  Whilst the symptoms of these were exacerbated in the short term by poor air quality; there were also longer term affects in particular for children, the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions; the obese and for smokers.  Evidence indicated that the health impact increased as the level of pollution increased and that the evidence base for the causal links to air pollution was growing.

Reference was made to the data from Public Health England’s report published in April 2014, on the health burden of air pollution which, along with other statistical evidence, estimated the following affects attributable to air pollution on mortality in Southampton in 2011:

•  in comparison to other cities (ie to 11 equivalent local authorities) Southampton had the highest estimated fraction of mortality associated with particulate air pollution - at 6%.  Local cities (such as Portsmouth – 5.3%, Brighton and Hove – 5.0%, Oxfordshire – 5.1% Bristol – 5.2% and Bournemouth – 4.1%) were rated better than Southampton

•  1,280 associated years of life lost / equivalent life expectancy loss of 7-8 months; and

•  COPD prevalence in Southampton (2.0%) is significantly higher than England (1.7%) and the 4^th highest amongst statistical neighbours.

However, it was clarified that the data represented the potential increased risk of mortality assuming long term exposure of the current population to current levels of pollution and that the report was based on modelled concentrations of air pollution.  Other evidence presented included:

·  the cost impact estimate from the Department of Transport of the health impact of air pollution from motorised transport for the UK was around £10 billion per annum and for Southampton it was thought to be £50 million;

·  motor vehicle traffic and diesel engines in particular, especially HGVs, was the main source for many air pollutants;

·  mapping of Air Quality Management areas in the City indicated links between exposure to air pollution / instances of associated diseases and areas of social deprivation.

In summary, when considering the degree to which tackling the issue should be a priority for the City, the following factors needed to be taken into account:

•  heart and lung diseases were significant issues for Southampton;

•  air pollution caused 1 in 15 deaths;

•  there was a growing evidence-base of health impact, particularly for those most vulnerable;

•  stopping smoking had largest impact on individual risk;

•  the promotion of walking and cycling as an alternative to motorised transport had additional health benefits;

•  the links with sustainable development agenda.

The following were highlighted as activities by SCC already in place:

•  Air Quality Action Plan - previous air quality actions had focused on transport related projects to improve the efficiency of the road network and reduce congestion;

•  Active Travel Strategy:

-  egMy Journey’ initiatives which included 100% of City schools having school travel plans to encourage children and parents to cycle or walk to school instead of driving;

-  the Council’s ‘Cycle to Prosperity’ scheme which aims to increase cycling levels from 3% to 18% within 10 years; and

-  a 10 year cycling strategy produced in association with Sustrans to increase the provisions for cyclists and make it safer to cycle throughout the City;

•  City Wide Low Emission Strategy:

-  including cleaner buses using the Clean Bus Technology Fund;

-  a working group from departments across the Council established to promote the delivery of existing initiatives and identify new ones. A City-wide emission reduction strategy to be developed for passenger cars, freight, buses and taxis (as described in the background information for meeting 1);

•  Air Alert - enabling people more vulnerable to air pollution to manage the health impact in the event of high pollution levels - free service and with currently 201 subscribers - 96 air alerts had been issued since June 2010.

Potential improvements included:

•  improve public awareness – eg a clearer Council webpage to inform on progress since the last Air Quality Action Plan;

•  better promotion of benefits of tackling air pollution – eg health improvements associated with active transport; reduced traffic leading to fewer road accidents;

•  alternative forms of transport – low emission / electric vehicles, active alternatives such as cycling and walking;

•  Park and Ride scheme – there was a potential site for the west of the City (old Ford site) but this was more difficult to achieve in the east;  Southampton alone amongst the comparator cities in not having one;

•  cycle path infrastructure – e.g. incorporating cycle lanes into new road builds as part of planning policy and making cycling safer in the City;

•  Urban Greening / Green Screens (tree planting to absorb pollutants - in particular Silver Birch);

•  Titanium Dioxide-covered (TiO2) covered roofs and concrete as used in the Netherlands to absorb pollutants – embedded within Planning Policy

•  Shirley High Street was particularly cited for potential road improvements to reduce congestion as currently it was seen as obstructive to free-flowing traffic;

•  Port relations – engaging in dialogue with the Port authorities to tackle issues such as pollution from idling port traffic / trains, use of on-shore power to ships at berth rather than on board generators;

•  congestion Charging scheme per London;

•  use of fines for idling vehicles - as introduced in Kingston upon Hull and Oxford – and that taxis be a particular consideration in this regard.

In response to questions from the Panel, urban greening was identified as being particularly effective and affordable.  Additionally, during discussion the following points were raised:

·  the use of face masks was felt to be of low acceptability to the public and lack of costs/resources would require partnership working;

·  due to current resource and cost issues particularly for SCC, it was recommended resources be targeted to action to tackle pollution rather than used for continuous monitoring in the City;

·  with regard to idling vehicles (and introducing fines) - it was agreed that this be taken up with the Port Authority who, although unable to attend a future meeting of the inquiry would shortly be meeting with the Chair; and that as meetings 3/4 of the inquiry would focus on transport, the issue be given further consideration then;

·  initiatives should be embedded into planning policies.