Pollution | LocalGov


Luton Airport expansion gets the green light 04/04/2025 The Government has signed off on the expansion of Luton Airport despite concerns about the environmental impact and a predicted increase in noise pollution.
Council clears tonnes of ‘nurdles’ after North Sea crash 02/04/2025 Teams from East Lindsey DC have cleaned up over 12 tonnes of plastic pellets from Lincolnshire’s beaches following a crash between two ships in the North Sea.
‘High’ air pollution alert in London 19/03/2025 City Hall has issued a ‘high’ air pollution alert in London on Thursday due to an increase in air pollution from mainland Europe.
New animation raises air quality awareness 17/03/2025 BCP Council is raising awareness of the dangers of air pollution among children across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole using the power of animation.
Green light for Greater Manchester’s £86m clean air scheme 24/01/2025 The Government has backed Greater Manchester’s decision not to implement a clean air zone (CAZ) and instead to take an ‘investment-led approach’ to pollution.
Mayor of London urged to tackle ‘mounting sewage crisis’ 22/01/2025 Campaigners have urged the Mayor of London to take action to tackle the ‘mounting sewage crisis’ in the capital.
Electric buggy pilot launched in London borough 21/01/2025 A pilot scheme allowing residents to hire electric buggies has been launched in the Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham in an effort to combat traffic congestion.
Councils get £47m for new homes stalled by nutrient neutrality rules 07/11/2024 Seven areas in England will benefit from a share of £45m to ‘unblock’ new housing developments that have been stalled by rules on nutrient neutrality.
New technology to revolutionise air quality monitoring 29/10/2024 Airly this month launched ‘Airly Orbital’ – a compact, low-power device with built-in GPS and cellular communications to allow mobile air quality monitoring.
Unlocking supply chain potential to deliver net zero 29/10/2024 Cllr Paul Dimoldenberg, Westminster City Council, discusses how councils can reach sustainability goals through collaboration with supply chains.
Oil firm continues production despite Supreme Court ruling 28/10/2024 Surrey County Council is considering enforcement action against an oil company that is operating two wells in the county, despite a Supreme Court ruling.
Council faces court challenge over low-traffic neighbourhood 30/09/2024 Campaigners are taking Lambeth Council to court over a new low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) scheme in West Dulwich.
No plans for Manchester CAZ despite illegal pollution 19/09/2024 Greater Manchester has created a new clean air strategy with no plans to charge drivers of polluting vehicles, despite a legal direction to reduce air pollution as quickly as possible.
Newham mayor ‘deeply concerned’ by airport expansion 20/08/2024 The Government has approved London City Airport's plans to increase passenger numbers by more than a third despite objections by Newham Council.
ULEZ working even better than expected, Khan says 26/07/2024 City Hall has said the controversial expansion of Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across the whole of London is ‘working better than expected’.
Council faces legal challenge over poultry unit 15/07/2024 A legal challenge has been launched over Shropshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a major intensive poultry unit.
Improving air quality in and around schools 08/07/2024 Megan Bennett, product marketing manager at Nuaire, looks at how poor air quality impacts children at school and what steps can be taken to improve it.
NextGov: Saving the local-national climate covenant 20/06/2024 Christopher Hammond, chief executive of UK100, discusses how the next government should help local authorities along the road to net zero.
Bid to tackle UK’s second most polluted river 19/06/2024 Councillors in Calderdale will devise a plan to clean up the UK’s second most polluted waterway.
Tories announce plan to scrap outer London Ulez 10/06/2024 The Conservatives plan to scrap outer London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) if re-elected, Transport Sectary Mark Harper revealed over the weekend.
Defra withholds £6m of air quality funding 16/04/2024 Around £6m in funding promised to local authorities to help tackle air pollution will be withheld, a Defra spokesperson has confirmed.
LTNs popular and effective, leaked report says 11/03/2024 Low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) are popular and effective, a leaked report from the Department for Transport (DfT) has found.
‘Outdated’ pollution warning systems putting swimmers at risk 29/02/2024 Swimmers could be at risk of bathing in sewage due to an ‘outdated’ pollution warning system, researchers at the University of Reading have warned.
Councils near Gatwick raise alarm over runway plan 27/02/2024 Local authorities near Gatwick have raised concerns over the potential increase in noise and air pollution if the airport brings another runway into use.
Sewage pipe failures prompts vote of no confidence 26/02/2024 East Devon District Council has passed a vote of no confidence in a water company after major pipe failures and sewage overflows into the sea.
Coastal councils raise water quality alarm 22/02/2024 Councils in coastal areas have raised the alarm about the impact on health and tourism caused by the continuing deterioration in coastal water quality.
Government faces legal action over air pollution death 26/01/2024 The mother of a girl whose death was linked to poor air quality is bringing a High Court claim against the Government.
Stoke-on-Trent council plans to stop ‘sledgehammer’ CAZ 18/01/2024 A team from Stoke-on-Trent City Council is working on a plan to stop a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) being implemented in the city.
Think-tank calls for ‘sensible adjustments’ to clean air zones 22/12/2023 Schemes to reduce air pollution should be designed to avoid penalising those living in more deprived areas, a think-tank has said.
Rowley rules out pre-election nutrient neutrality law change 21/12/2023 The Government has confirmed it will not be introducing primary legislation on nutrient neutrality in the current Parliament.
Mayor Burnham criticises fee-paying clean air zone 14/12/2023 Public investment in buses and taxis will improve air quality in Greater Manchester faster than a fee-paying clean air zone (CAZ), Mayor Andy Burnham says.
Luton Airport Expansion – how much growth is too much? 06/12/2023 As COP28 continues, Cllr Richard Roberts, Herts County Council, criticises Luton Airport's plans to increase passenger numbers to 32 million a year.
Portsmouth CAZ ‘not enough’ as legal limits still breached 01/12/2023 A government-mandated clean air zone (CAZ) in Portsmouth is not enough to reduce emissions, with pollution on three sites continuing to breach the legal limit, the city’s council has said.
Councillors ‘powerless and penniless’ on clean air 09/11/2023 Elected members do not believe that councils have the powers or budgets to make meaningful change on air quality, research has found.
State of rivers ‘hangs in the balance’ amid pollution climbdown 24/10/2023 The Government has reportedly abandoned its plans to scrap nutrient neutrality rules.
Newcastle clean air zone brings in £500k 27/09/2023 Newcastle City Council’s clean air zone (CAZ) has brought in over £500,000 in the first six months of its operation, new figures from the council reveal.
PM delays new petrol and diesel ban to 2035 21/09/2023 PM Rishi Sunak has delayed the Government's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and vans from 2030 to 2035.
Environmental regulations holding back housebuilding 21/09/2023 Laws such as those requiring nutrient neutrality in housing developments have resulted in ‘effective moratoria on housebuilding,’ Lords committee says.
Councils press for more stringent air quality targets 06/09/2023 Local authorities have dismissed claims air pollution targets cannot be met by 2030.
Time to fight Government water plans 05/09/2023 Ali Morse, water policy manager for The Wildlife Trusts, makes the case for defending the EU-era nutrient neutrality rules.
Against nutrient neutrality rules 31/08/2023 Neil Jefferson, the managing director of Home Builders Federation, makes the case for scrapping the EU-era nutrient neutrality rules.
Vehicle emission schemes raise £418m 24/08/2023 More than £400m in fees and penalties has been generated from vehicle emission schemes in England, a freedom of information (FOI) request has revealed.
Labour U-turns on support for clean air zones 14/08/2023 Labour has scrapped its public support for ULEZ-style clean air zones across the country.
Transport planners write to PM in defence of LTNs 09/08/2023 The Transport Planning Society (TPS) has written to the PM in defence of low traffic neighbourhoods in the wake of the Government's push-back.
Khan urges critics to join him in call for southeast scrappage scheme 07/08/2023 Sadiq Khan has urged Home Counties councils to join him in calling on the Government to fund a southeast scrappage scheme for non-ULEZ compliant cars.
Councils invited to bid for share of £6m air quality fund 07/08/2023 Councils across England are being invited to bid for a share of £6m of Government funding to help tackle local air pollution.
ULEZ scrappage scheme extended 04/08/2023 Sadiq Khan has announced that the ULEZ scrappage scheme will be expanded, with grants of £2000 being made available to all Londoners with a non-compliant car.
National review of low-traffic neighbourhoods ‘unnecessary’ 31/07/2023 Local authorities are best placed to make decisions about whether to implement low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTN) or not, council chiefs have told the PM.
Mayor Khan wins ULEZ expansion legal battle 28/07/2023 There is no legal impediment to the Mayor of London’s expansion of the Ultra-Low Emissions Zone (ULEZ) to outer London, the High Court has ruled.
Air pollution impact on health ‘underestimated’ 27/07/2023 A study in Bradford has linked healthcare attendances for breathing difficulties to breaches in daily air pollution limits.
Hertfordshire CC refuses to allow ULEZ signs 26/07/2023 Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) signs and enforcement cameras will not be permitted in Hertfordshire, the council leader has told London Mayor Sadiq Khan.
Driving out pollution 25/07/2023 Cllr Rezina Chowdhury, deputy leader of Lambeth Council, discusses how her London borough is phasing out diesel to protect residents’ health.
London City Airport expansion blocked by Newham Council 11/07/2023 Newham Council’s strategic development committee has voted unanimously to block London City Airport’s plans for expansion.
Get on your bike! 27/06/2023 Richard Dilks, chief executive of Collaborative Mobility UK (CoMoUK), looks at what local authorities can do to promote shared bike schemes.
London’s consumption-based emissions not decreasing fast enough 26/06/2023 The emissions created by the lifestyles of Londoners have decreased each year but more needs to be done if net zero targets are to be met, council chiefs say.
Leeds pollution still at illegal levels after CAZ ditched 16/06/2023 Toxic air pollution in Leeds was above legal limits in 2021 after the city council chose not to proceed with a government-mandated Clean Air Zone (CAZ).
Haringey to treble number of School Streets 16/06/2023 Haringey councillors have signed off on a plan that will almost treble the number of School Streets in the borough to 61.
Birmingham council launches air quality fund 02/06/2023 A funding scheme for cycle racks, school traffic exclusion plans and other measures has been launched to help improve air quality in Birmingham.
Court widens grounds in ULEZ challenge 31/05/2023 The High Court has allowed further grounds to be added to the Judicial Review into the proposed expansion of the ULEZ to outer London.
Shaking up the system on toxic chemical cocktails 24/05/2023 Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife & Countryside Link, discusses the harmful combinations of chemicals in the UK’s waterways and what councils can do about it.
Toxic ‘chemical cocktails’ discovered in rivers 24/05/2023 A toxic concoction of ‘chemical cocktails’ have been detected at over 1,600 river and other freshwater sites across England, wildlife charities have found.
Council calls for shellfish death inquiry 19/05/2023 North Yorkshire Council has backed calls for a public inquiry into the unexplained mass deaths of shellfish off its coastline.
Councils face ‘Kafkaesque’ barriers to net zero 03/05/2023 Local authorities face ‘Kafkaesque’ barriers to achieving net zero goals, a new report backed by the Government’s net zero tsar has concluded.
Toxic air pollution in London exceeds WHO guidelines 26/04/2023 Every borough in London exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) limits for toxic air pollution, new data reveals.
Sutton Council launches anti-ULEZ expansion petition 25/04/2023 Sutton Council in south-west London has launched a petition among residents to protest against new restrictions on vehicle emissions.
High Court grants permission for ULEZ judicial review 13/04/2023 The High Court has granted permission for a judicial review into the proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to outer London this summer.
Air quality consultation launched 12/04/2023 The Government has launched a consultation on how councils in England can improve air quality.
Councils should involve young people in environmental policy, report says 06/04/2023 Local authorities should harness young people’s energy and enthusiasm to engage them in improving the environment, according to a team of academics.
Fly-tipping incidents skyrocket by a third 05/04/2023 The number of fly-tipping incidents has increased by a third since 2010, a new analysis by Labour has revealed.
Understanding the disposal rules for POPs 04/04/2023 Hamish Farmer, direct sales manager at Inciner8, explains how local authorities can ensure waste management centres meet new regulations.
Council leader ‘angry’ about Poole oil leak 27/03/2023 ‘Serious questions’ need to be asked about a leak from a pipeline at an onshore oil field into Poole Harbour in Dorset, the local council leader has said.
Nearly 700,000 drivers in Greater London face ULEZ charges 24/03/2023 Nearly 700,000 car drivers in Greater London could be liable to pay a £12.50 charge to drive into the city from the summer, according to the RAC.
20,000 homes ‘in limbo’ due to river pollution 13/03/2023 Thousands of new homes cannot be built because of pollution in rivers and high water levels, council leaders have warned.
Granting rivers rights 09/03/2023 Lewes DC recently passed the first ever Rights of River motion in England. Cllr Matthew Bird, who proposed the motion, explains the reason for the bold step.
Private cars exempt as Sheffield finally gets CAZ 27/02/2023 Sheffield’s CAZ came into force on Monday, more than five years after the Government legally directed the council to implement the air quality measure.
Khan calls for Home Counties targeted scrappage scheme 24/02/2023 Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a new scrappage scheme to help people in the Home Counties to retrofit or replace vehicles that are not ULEZ compliant.
Over £1.6m available to tackle chewing gum pollution 17/02/2023 Over £1.6m of funding is now available to help local authorities across the UK tackle chewing gum pollution.
Five councils launch judicial review against ULEZ 17/02/2023 Five councils have launched a judicial review against Transport for London and London mayor Sadiq Khan over the expansion of the ULEZ to outer London.
Three quarters of Hackney streets to become LTNs 26/01/2023 Hackney is set to ban most vehicles from most of its roads in what it says is ‘the country’s most ambitious plan’ for Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) so far.
Khan faces new pushback over ULEZ expansion 20/01/2023 A London council has vowed to continue its fight to delay the expansion of the capital’s ultra low emission zone (ULEZ).
Air quality campaigners warn of ‘dark stores’ 08/12/2022 Air quality campaigners have called on levelling up secretary Michael Gove to tighten up regulations around last-mile delivery depots.
London’s ULEZ to expand city-wide 28/11/2022 London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to be expanded city-wide as part of the drive to tackle air pollution, the climate emergency and congestion.
Residents struggling to find information on levels of dangerous air pollution, MPs warn 26/10/2022 Local authorities are making it too difficult for residents to find information about dangerous levels of air pollution in their local area, a new report has argued today.
Million children exposed to dangerous levels of pollution 05/10/2022 More than a million children under the age of 18 live in areas where air pollution exceeds safe levels, new research has revealed.
New framework for improving air quality announced 18/08/2022 The Government today announced a new series of measures, including strengthened guidance, to help local authorities improve air quality.
Metropolitan transport authorities 'key' to tackling climate change 27/06/2022 New report argues that metropolitan transport authorities have integral role to play in tackling the climate crisis by reducing transport systems' emissions.
Council to use artificial salt marshes to clean waste water 24/06/2022 A new scheme in Leicestershire will see artificially created salt marshes being used to clean oils, diesel and chemicals in water collected from road gullies.
Air quality improvements ‘not as fast as expected’ 17/06/2022 The Government’s programme for helping local authorities tackle air pollution has progressed more slowly than expected, according to auditors.
Nearly a quarter of drivers admit to idling engines 16/06/2022 Over 20% of drivers admit to regularly leaving engines running while their vehicle is stationary despite the impact this has on air quality, research reveals.
‘Clean Air Net Zero’ approach could boost local areas by £1.6bn 13/06/2022 Local policymakers must consider the air quality impact of net zero policies to save billions of pounds and to avoid a ‘dieselgate scandal’, new report says.
Scotland's Low Emission Zones await enforcement 31/05/2022 Low Emission Zones (LEZs) have been formally introduced in Scotland’s four main cities but will not be enforced for up to two years.
Mayor Khan launches consultation on ULEZ expansion 23/05/2022 A consultation on plans to expand the ULEZ to cover most of London has been launched as part of the effort to improve air quality and reduce congestion.
Road-pricing system fairer than fuel tax 16/05/2022 Charging motorists a levy based on the miles they drive would be fairer than taxing fuel and could address the cost of living crisis, think tank says.
Newcastle and Gateshead clean air zone postponed 13/05/2022 Plans to introduce a clean air zone (CAZ) in Newcastle and Gateshead are to be postponed to allow more time for people and businesses to get ready.
Nearly all UK addresses breach air pollution limits 29/04/2022 Around 97% of all UK addresses breach at least one World Health Organisation (WHO) limit for toxic pollutants, shocking new report reveals.
Newcastle had highest NO2 levels across Europe last month 19/04/2022 Newcastle upon Tyne had the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide levels last month out of all major cities across Europe, according to a new study.
Air quality consultations launched 29/03/2022 The Government has launched two consultations on proposals to make it easier for local authorities to tackle poor air quality in their areas.
Consultation on end date for sale of new non-zero emission buses launched 29/03/2022 The Department for Transport has launched a consultation on setting an end date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses, coaches and minibuses.
London boroughs commit to work for a ‘more sustainable’ city 24/03/2022 Local authorities in London have committed to work collaboratively to reach net zero targets across the capital.
Government proposes new targets to protect environment 17/03/2022 New legal targets on air quality, nutrient pollution and water quality have been proposed by the Government as part of its Environment Act.