The LGA's media office provides the national voice of local government in England and Wales on the major issues of the day for national, regional and local press.
“Councils are determined to reduce the impact of harmful emissions on the health of our communities but if the Government’s air quality plans and any new local powers are to be successful, they need to be underpinned by local flexibility and sufficient funding.
“Councils also need local powers to further tackle air pollution, particularly with regard to moving traffic offences, government support on planning and transport matters, and robust national action to help the country transition to low-emission vehicles and power generation.”
“It is councils who know their local areas best, so they should be given the freedom to work with their local communities to get on with planning active travel infrastructure such as cycling schemes."
The LGA has long-called for the ban on pavement parking to be extended to all areas of England, with councils able to make exemptions, so we are pleased government has launched this consultation.
“This funding, and recent government announcements pledging more money for local roads is positive, but has to be viewed in the context that councils face a £12 billion roads repair backlog bill."
“Councils are best-placed to ensure chargepoints are delivered in the right places and avoiding inappropriate or poor siting. All councils need to benefit and have full flexibility to maximise the impact of the funding."
“To further tackle air pollution, the Government needs to use the Queen’s Speech to give councils more powers, like the ability for them all to enforce moving traffic offences."
Cllr Martin Tett, Transport spokesman for the Local Government Association, responds to an announcement of £22.9 million in government funding to help some councils lead research and trials on new road surface materials and pothole repairs.
Cllr Martin Tett, the Local Government Association’s Transport spokesman, responds to the Government’s announcement to change legislation to protect the free bus travel scheme.