Oxfordshire website shows real-time air quality data
New county-wide air quality information site has been funded through £20,000 Defra grant
Oxfordshire residents are now able to access real-time information about air quality across the county on a new website launched funded through a £20,000 government grant.
The website provides real-time measurements of Oxfordshire air quality (click to enlarge)
First launched last month (October 21), the www.Oxfordshire.air-quality.info site provides hourly updates about the level of harmful pollutants in the air as well as historic data.
In addition, the site provides information about the health impact of air pollution alongside advice on how residents can reduce their exposure to poor air quality, with website visitors easily able to share information on social media and email.
The website was developed by the Oxfordshire Air Quality Group, which consists of Oxford city council and South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Oxfordshire and Cherwell district councils.
It has been funded through a £20,000 grant from Defra’s Air Quality Grant Scheme after a successful bid by South Oxfordshire district council.
South Oxfordshire district councillor Tony Harbour, cabinet member for environmental health, said: “This new website gives residents the chance to access the most up-to-date information about air quality in their area. Part of our job is to make sure that the district is a place where people want to live, work, and enjoy — and tackling air quality by working with local communities and organisations is part of that as well as making sure our residents are kept informed.”
Oxford city councillor John Tanner, executive board member for cleaner, greener Oxford, commented: “Not only does the new website provide crucial data for those suffering respiratory conditions, it also shows all residents why it is so important that they take action to reduce their own impact on our air quality.
“We are committed to tackling air quality head-on. Recent work has included requiring buses to produce low emissions; £250,000 of improvements to the city’s cycling network; and bids to a £65m government grant pot to encourage the use of electric vehicles.”
Cherwell district councillor Tony Ilott, lead member for public protection, said: “Clean air is a concern for us all. This website, which has been created through effective partnership working between the Oxfordshire councils, will prove a useful tool in illustrating air quality throughout the county and raising residents’ awareness of air quality issues in their area.”