The Conservative Government has recently awarded Derbyshire County Council over £278,000 from its Air Quality Grant Scheme 2022-23.

The programme, from the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, has seen £10.7 million in funding awarded to local authorities this year and nearly £53 million since 2010.

Derbyshire County Council’s funding comes as part of one of 44 successful bids nationally and is to help them to develop and deliver a traffic management plan that will reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

Consecutive Conservative Governments have overseen rapid improvements in air quality since 2010. Fine particulate matter has fallen by 18%, emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 44% and sulphur dioxide by 70%.

The announcement of these figures follows the launching of the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan in January 2023, setting out, amongst other things, the Government’s challenge to local authorities to improve air quality and new interim targets to reduce levels of fine particulate matter.

Funding from the 2022-23 Air Quality Grant scheme will help to support Derbyshire County Council in meeting these commitments locally.

Mr Largan is pleased that the Conservative Government is focusing heavily on reducing pollution and improving the country’s air quality.

Robert Largan, MP for High Peak, commented:

“It’s very welcoming to see such a strong focus on reducing particulates in the air and improving overall air quality.

“I’m really pleased to see that the Government are working with Derbyshire County Council on their local plan to improve air quality and reduce congestion, on Air Quality Grant Funding but also on major infrastructure projects like the Mottram Bypass and Glossop Spur Road.

“Over the last few years, thanks to the joint effort from my office and Conservative-run Derbyshire County Council, we have seen major progress locally on plans to tackle congestion and improve air quality.

“This shows what we can achieve when we work together!”