CORNWALL Council is asking people in Gunnislake for their views on a draft action plan to improve air quality in the village.

The consultation period runs from January 11 until March 7 and local people are being asked to share their views on the options the council is investigating to improve air quality in the area.

Cornwall Council declared Gunnislake an Air Quality Management Area in 2014 after long term monitoring found that the village has excessive levels of traffic related nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The main cause is heavy vehicles such as lorries passing through Gunnislake on the A390.

Geoff Brown, Cornwall Council’s portfolio holder for communities, said: ‘Although air quality in Cornwall is generally very good, there are a few areas where pollution exceeds national air quality standards and Gunnislake is one of them.  The action plan for Gunnislake Air Quality Management Area is an important positive step towards improving the local air quality and well-being and sustainability for our residents and visitors alike.’

Dorothy Kirk, Cornwall Councillor for Gunnislake and Calstock, said: ‘The draft plan includes fourteen different measures that could help to improve air quality in Gunnislake.  These range from promoting car sharing to working with hauliers to find alternative routes for HGV traffic.  We need as many local people as possible to tell us what they think so that we can develop the most suitable options for the village.’

Residents who live along the A390 in the heart of the village will receive leaflet about the options. There will also be a drop in exhibition at the Gunnislake Public Hall on January 26, from 3pm to 7pm with staff from the council’s Public Protection team on hand to answer questions.  Anyone can comment on the action plan proposals at the drop in exhibition or by emailing the council on envhealthandlicensing @cornwall.gov.uk, posting their comments to the council or handing them in at a one stop shop.

More information about the Gunnislake Air Quality Management Area is available on www.cornwall.gov.uk/gunnislakeairquality