Consultation on Draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP4)

Introduction to online consultation

City of York Council’s (CYC) Fourth Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP4) outlines the action CYC will take to further improve air quality in York over the next 5 years between 2023 and 2027 to go beyond health-based National Air Quality Objectives in all areas and work towards meeting World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines. AQAP4 aims to reduce concentrations of air pollutants and exposure to air pollution, thereby improving the health and quality of life of residents and visitors to York.

AQAP4 updates and replaces the previous action plan (AQAP3) which ran from September 2015 and has been developed to reflect growing evidence about the health impacts of air pollution, updated work to consider local sources of air pollution and the current air quality in York compared to the health-based standards.

Measures in AQAP4 are aligned to the Council Plan and reflects ambitions contained within our 10-Year Strategies covering climate, health and wellbeing and the economy. AQAP4 firmly embeds the Council Plan’s priority of sustainable, accessible transport and energy-efficient, healthy homes for all.

Through delivery of the measures in AQAP4, CYC will continue to work towards making York a city that offers some of the best urban air quality in the UK.

AQAP4 Document and Consultation Summary

We have produced a Consultation Summary document to provide background information about why CYC are required to produce an Air Quality Action Plan. This summary outlines the AQAP4 priority areas and actions for improving air quality and is available at XXXXXXXXXXXXXX. The full AQAP4 document is available at XXXXXXXXXXX.

We would now like your views on the updated draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP4). Please read the updated Air Quality Action Plan (main document) and/or Consultation Summary and complete the questionnaire.

The consultation period will start on XXXXXXXX and end on XXXXXXXXX

Begin with standard demographic questions from Business Intelligence

1. To help us understand who we have consulted with, please indicate which of these statements best describes the views you have provided in this consultation response (tick all that apply)

· I am a local resident and these are my personal views (please go to question 3)

· I am a non-York resident and these are my personal views (please go to question 3)

· These comments are provided in my professional/business capacity (please go to question 2)

2. If responding in a professional or business capacity, please indicate which type of organisation or industry you represent (tick all that apply)

· Local government / Local authority officer

· Central government organisation

· Local retailer / trader / service provider

· University / Academic organisation

· Bus operator / driver

· Taxi operator / driver

· Freight operator / haulier

· Environmental charity or pressure group

· Health related charity of pressure group

· Healthcare professional

· Industrial process / large scale manufacturing

· Land use planning / planning consultant

· Environmental consultant / solicitor

· Low emission vehicle industry / EV infrastructure provider

· Other (please state nature of the business)

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3. What is your postcode? If you would prefer not to give your postcode please go to question 4.

If responding in a personal capacity provide postcode of home address	...................................
If responding in a professional or business capacity provide postcode of your work address / business premises	....................................

4. Before reading the draft Air Quality Action Plan, how concerned were you about air quality in York?

· Very concerned

· Moderately concerned

· Slightly concerned

· Not concerned

5. After reading the draft Air Quality Action Plan, how concerned are you about air quality in York?

· Very concerned

· Moderately concerned

· Slightly concerned

· Not concerned

6. Should the council continue reduce air pollution?

· Strongly agree

· agree

· neither agree or disagree

· disagree

· strongly disagree

7. The draft Air Quality Action Plan sets out our priority areas to reduce emissions and improve air quality further in York over the next 5 years. In your opinion, what importance should be given to these areas?

Area	High importance	Medium importance	Low importance	Unsure
Reducing emissions from freight / delivery vehicles
Reducing emissions from buses
Reducing emissions from idling vehicles
Reducing emissions from taxis
Reducing emissions from council vehicles (CYC Fleet)
Expand Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging
Minimising development related emissions
Incentives for low emission vehicles / alternative fuels
Improved public information and awareness
Modal shift, active travel and network improvement (includes walking, cycling and public transport measures)
Non-transport related emissions arising from domestic combustion sources (e.g. burning of solid fuels, including wood, at home)
Non-transport related emissions arising from industrial combustion sources
Monitoring air quality / access to air quality information

8. Do you agree or disagree that the measures outlined in the updated Air Quality Action Plan will help reduce emissions and improve air quality in York?

· Strongly agree

· agree

· neither agree or disagree

· disagree

· strongly disagree

9. Are there any measures in the draft plan that you consider should be given greater priority in the short term (<2 years)?

Please state below which measures you consider should be given greater priority and why.

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10. Are there any other measures that you would like to see included in the draft plan that are currently not included.

Please state below.

11. Which of these measures do you do / would you do to improve air quality in York.

Provide 3 options – I currently do / I propose to do / I do not propose to do

· Use my car less

· Walk more

· Cycle more

· Buy an e-Bike / e-scooter

· Use the bus

· Share a lift

· Join a car club / car share scheme

· Shop locally / order online

· Use a lower emission vehicle / electric vehicle

· Switch of vehicle engine when stationary to prevent idling emissions

· Reduce use of open fire / solid fuel burning stove

· Review air quality information available from CYC to help reduce my exposure to poor air quality

· Consider home / business energy efficiency upgrades (e.g. insulation) to reduce carbon and other emissions

· Replace gas boiler with lower carbon / lower emission technologies (e.g. heat pumps)

· Attend community events in York (or online webinars) about energy efficiency / building retrofit solutions

If there are any barriers that prevent you from doing these things at the moment, please provide brief comments below:

12. Further comments

If you have any other specific comments on the draft Air Quality Action Plan or other suggestions for improving air quality in York, write them here:

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Include thank you message following submission of questionnaire