Comment

Representation ID: 225

Received: 05/01/2024

Respondent: Dennis R Whittaker

"1.b. promoting and supporting (including through continued joint working with authorities inside and outside the Black Country) a modal shift from private motorised vehicles to the use of clean, fast and accessible public transport alternatives such as rail, the Metro and bus transport networks, cycling and walking;"
With respect to Air Quality, the private Car itself is not a problem - it's the means of powering it. This problem is being dealt with by the introduction of alternative power sources such as Batteries and Hydrogen.
Most Buses and many Trains are Diesel powered and therefore are at least as polluting as Cars and so not a
clean alternative. As with Cars, no doubt this will be dealt with in due course - and Buses are far from fast. People will continue to use Cars because they are flexible, convenient, comfortable, reliable, time-efficient and people using them can get from their home directly to a destination without excessive exposure to bad
weather. As such, for the individual, in most scenarios, a Car is by far the most sustainable mode of transport.
I speak, not from theory or wishful thinking but from over 60 years personal experience that began with about five nightmare years of Bus use that was only relieved when I learnt to drive. When I've had to use Buses recently, I found that nothing had changed.
Cars, Public Transport and Cycling are not mutually exclusive so, people should have those options available and the support infrastructure for all forms should be provided.
Within about a mile or so, I enjoy walking (weather and Arthritis permitting) and would use the Train if I ever needed to go to central Birmingham. Otherwise, I use my Car.

Comment

Representation ID: 647

Received: 22/12/2023

Respondent: TfWM and WMCA

The KRN team welcomes the section relating to Air Quality in the Climate Change chapter and would encourage embedding policy relating to air quality in all transport-related strategies, due to the high percentage of responsibility that transport holds for air pollutants.

Comment

Representation ID: 663

Received: 22/12/2023

Respondent: Natural England

Natural England welcomes the inclusion of this policy. Air quality is also major threat to habitats and species. Many ecological sites are exceeding their critical loads and levels for ammonia, nitrogen deposition and acid deposition. We advise that the policy is amended to ensure that new
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development does not contribute to the further deterioration of habitats and species due to air pollution.

Support

Representation ID: 717

Received: 22/12/2023

Respondent: Canal and River Trust

In relation to Air Quality the Trust welcomes the inclusion of ‘Emissions from Construction Sites’ within the wording of para 12.42 as this aligns to our regular requests for Construction and Environmental Management Plans within our statutory consultation responses to planning applications.