New air quality website
Released: 3 September 2007
Residents in Wolverhampton will have quick and easy access to information on air quality in their area thanks to a new website.
The website can be found at www.wmair.org or via individual authorities’ websites.
People will be able to:
• Check where, what and how air pollution is measured
• View and download current and historical air pollution levels from over 30 sites across the region, including Birmingham International Airport
• Read about sources and health implications of certain air pollutants
• View the West Midlands’ Pollution Index, allowing people with respiratory problems to make informed decisions about their daily activities
• Download reports compiled by individual local authorities
• Find links to related websites
Wolverhampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment, Councillor Pat Byrne, said: “Air pollution doesn’t respect geographical boundaries. Therefore the West Midlands local authorities are working collaboratively with the aim of reducing air pollution.
“The group has now launched a website dedicated to giving the public easy access to air quality information across the region. We want to raise public awareness and welcome any feedback about future expansion of the website”, she added.
Phil Parkes, Chair of the West Midlands Joint Pollution Group – Air Quality, said: “The partnership between the councils has produced an innovative regional air quality website that displays live data from across the West Midlands.
“It represents part of the ongoing strategy to improve air quality in the region, through raising awareness of the issue and providing the public with up to date, useful information”, he added.
All seven West Midlands local authorities are working together to improve air quality across the region. They have a statutory duty to review and assess air quality and work towards reaching national standards set by Government to deal with air pollution that is harmful to health.
The seven local authorities are:
- Birmingham City Council
- Coventry City Council
- Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
- Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
- Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
- Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.
Issued by the press office.