West Oxfordshire District Council wants residents’ views on air quality and what measures they believe will improve the quality of the air we breathe.

Lidia Arciszewska, executive nember for Environment said, “Air quality in West Oxfordshire is generally good, with the vast majority of the district complying with the UK objectives set by DEFRA. 

"However, in both Witney and Chipping Norton, the concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) have exceeded the Government objectives. As a consequence, Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) have been declared in both towns.” 

In Witney, the AQMA extends the length of Bridge Street and the northern section of High Street, from the junction with Witan Way to Bridge Street. 

In Chipping Norton, the AQMA extends from Banbury Road, through Horsefair, Market Place, and West Street. 

The high concentrations of NO2 are a consequence of the volume of traffic and congestion worsened by street canyons - narrow sections of road lined with buildings - at both sites.

West Oxfordshire District Council is required to develop an Air Quality Action Plan for each town. 

These have been drafted with Ricardo Energy & Environment, and consultation with key stakeholders. 

The AQAPs can be viewed at yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB, or at Witney Town Hall or The Guildhall, Chipping Norton (open Mon – Fri, 9am – 1pm). The proposed measures are in Section 5 of each AQAP.

Send comments either to ers@westoxon.gov.uk with the subject  ‘AQAP Feedback’, or complete the questionnaire at yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB. 

The survey runs from Monday June 5 to Friday July 14, 2023.