Air quality and health

Read about our ongoing partnership work to address air quality issues and learn how to get air quality alerts, forecasts, and reports.

Poor air quality has been linked to respiratory health effects. The focus for outdoor air quality in the UK is on the prevention and minimisation of health effects on people vulnerable to air pollution. Road traffic has replaced industry as the main source of air pollution.

If you are concerned about the impact that air quality may be having on your health, you may be interested in joining the airAlert service. airAlert is provided by the Sussex Air Quality Partnership (SAQP) and sends alert messages to vulnerable people in Sussex informing them that poor air quality is predicted in their area. For more information on this FREE service, visit the airAlert website.

Anti-idling campaign

Both councils have launched a campaign to encourage drivers to cut down on air pollution by turning off their engine while dropping off children at school. For every minute a vehicle idles, it could fill 150 balloons with toxic chemicals.

Across the district and borough, schools are being invited to sign up to the anti-idling campaign. Those that do will receive digital information packs to send out to parents and pupils, giving them the opportunity to find out more about air pollution and ways to reduce it. The scheme is part of the councils' ongoing work to raise air quality awareness in partnership with East Sussex County Council, Sussex-air and Public Health England.

Any schools wishing to sign up should contact customerfirst@lewes-eastbourne.gov.uk

Lewes Air Quality Management Area

In 2005, an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared in Lewes town centre for nitrogen dioxide. Further details about the actions we are taking to improve air quality in Lewes can be found in the air quality reports and documents section below.

Newhaven Air Quality Management Area

In 2014, an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared for the Newhaven gyratory (A259) for nitrogen dioxide. Further details about the actions we are taking to improve air quality in Newhaven can be found in the air quality reports and documents section.

Air quality reports

For our air quality reports after 2015, visit the Sussex-air website.

Eastbourne Borough Council continues to take the issue of air quality and the impacts on human health extremely seriously and works collaboratively with other agencies to meet air quality objectives. The council works with Clean Air Eastbourne, Eastbourne Friends of the Earth, Eastbourne Chamber of Commerce and Bespoke to form the Eastbourne Air Quality Partnership to improve air quality across the borough. The minutes and agendas for the partnership can be found on the Clean Air Eastbourne website.