Air Quality Improves In Lutterworth Town Centre

An Air Quality Management Area which has been in force in Lutterworth Town Centre for over 20 years is set to be revoked.

It was put in place by Harborough District Council in 2001 because levels of nitrous dioxide caused by vehicle fumes breached guidelines.

For the last six years the air quality has been below the threshold and councillors are set to approve the withdrawal of the measure at a meeting tonight.

Lutterworth Town Centre Pic: Andy Carpenter

Councils have to declare Air Quality Management Areas by law if pollution levels are high and implement measures to address the problem.

A report to be considered says: “The Council has been monitoring air quality in Lutterworth since 1997 and for the sixth year running since the declaration of the AQMA in 2001, the 2023 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) results did not exceed the annual mean air quality standard.

“In 2018, the Council worked with Leicestershire County Council to install a gating system which manages the free flow of heavy goods vehicles through the town to minimise the stop/start of such vehicles.

“This intervention, and the general increased uptake of electric vehicles both contribute to the reduction of local levels of pollution.

“The monitoring of air quality in Lutterworth shall be continued so that the Council can ensure ongoing compliance.”

An Air Quality Management Area is also in place along a stretch of the A6 through Kibworth and this will remain active, however the council says nitrous dioxide did not breach the acceptable levels during 2023.