WORKING TOGETHER TO REDUCE ROADSIDE NITROGEN DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS
The Blackwater Valley Group of Hampshire and Surrey County Councils, and Rushmoor and Surrey Heath Borough Councils, are working together to reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations on the A331 between the A31 and M3.
This is part of the Government's plan to improve air quality within the shortest possible time.
This stretch of road was identified by Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) modelling as an area where an assessment at the national level indicated nitrogen dioxide concentrations would exceed the annual mean EU limit value for levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2).
The Blackwater Valley Group have produced a Local Plan to reduce concentrations of NO2 along this road. Detailed local modelling has determined that the only viable solution is to reduce the speed limit along approximately 1.8 km section of the A331, between Coleford Bridge and Frimley from 70mph to 50mph. This will start from June 2019. Funding has been secured for Hampshire County Council to implement the speed reduction and for Rushmoor Borough Council to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness in delivering compliance with the NO2 EU limit value.