Expert ‘summit’ on Manchester air pollution
Wednesday 13 March 2019
THE PUBLIC health “emergency” of air pollution and how to stop Greater Manchester choking is the focus of a ‘regional panel of experts’ at the University of Salford on Thursday, March 21.
The much-anticipated Clean Air Strategy for Manchester promises real change after a steady decline in air standards which have left the city-region with some of the most polluted streets in the UK.
An outline business case published this month sets out plans for a Clean Air Zone which involves charging drivers of the most polluting vehicles and promoting Metrolink and the £1.5 billion planned investment in the walking and cycling ‘Bee Network’.
"Road transport is the biggest contributor to air pollution in Greater Manchester, and this means how we get around, what vehicles we use and how we use them directly affect the air we breathe," says Dr Nick Davies of the Healthy Active Cities group at the University of Salford.
Illegal levels
"We have 150 roads where nitrogen dioxide levels are illegal according to UK and EU legislation and I’m sorry to say one of those runs right through this University campus.
“It’s an emergency and we need as wide a debate as possible on the solutions, and how we make them sustainable, not as add-ons but as part of our behaviours and routines.”
The March 21 event features guest speakers, including:
- Lynda Steffek, Air Pollution Lead, Salford City Council
- - Pete Abel, Manchester Friends of the Earth
- - Dr Mohammad Taleghani, School of Built Environment, University of Salford
The event is part of a series called Sustainable Transport Futures, aimed at stimulating debate among key groups in the city ants including researchers, private business and the public and community sectors.
Co-organiser Dr Graeme Sherriff said: “At the University of Salford we are building a multi-disciplinary group spanning engineering, public health, digital health,transport, ecology, data science and others concerned with research and education related to these life-changing questions.”
The event will be held in the Old Fire Station, Peel Campus, University of Salford,12-2pm. A forthcoming event – in May - will be on walking.
Find out more
Gareth Hollyman, Senior Press & PR Officer (Science)
0161 295 6895 g.b.hollyman@salford.ac.uk
