Town centre's air quality improvement is good news, senior councillor says

An improvement in air quality in a part of Bolton has been hailed as "good news". The pollution monitoring station on Derby Street, in the town centre, recorded a PM2.5 score of 8 μg/m3 for 2024, an improvement from 2023's score of 10.

3μg/m3 and 2022's 11.1μg/m3 score. PM2.



5 particles are floating particulate matter in the air that measure 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, and are deemed as the most deadly types of air pollution due to their small size. Bolton Council ’s executive cabinet member for climate change and environment, Cllr Richard Silvester, said: “Cleaner air is good news for the health and wellbeing of people in Bolton and we’re delighted to have seen continued improvements over recent years.

Read more: 'Clean-air zones not the way to tackle air pollution problem', Bolton environment chief Read more: Air quality needs better monitoring Read more: A quarter of UK homes sit in areas with dangerous levels of air pollution “There are several likely reasons for this. “One is that cars, vans, and lorries are becoming less polluting thanks to stricter engine standards. “Another is the growing number of cleaner buses, which has been made easier by the switch to the Bee Network and includes fully electric buses that have no tailpipe emissions at all.

” In June 2024, it was revealed by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities that figures show air pollution was responsible for 5.8 per cent of the deaths of people in Bolton aged over 30 in 2022. This was up from 5.

4 per cent the year before but was below pre-pandemic levels of 6.5 per cent. The figures showed significant regional inequality across England, with 17 of the 18 areas with the worst air pollution death rates in London.

A highly controversial scheme for Greater Manchester to bring in charges for cars , vans, buses, lorries and coaches that did not meet emission standards was parked in 2022 after a huge backlash. An updated plan was submitted in December 2023 and has yet to be approved, but the government has now said it does not intend to impose a charge..