Published: Thursday, 17 June 2021

Residents in Oxford do not want to return to the levels of air pollution experienced before the pandemic, and want effective measures to ensure this - a new survey by Oxford City Council has found.

The findings come from latest round of polling of the Council’s Residents Panel - a representative sample of citizens selected independently who share their views on local issues. When asked about their views, 74% agree or strongly agree that during the lockdowns they have experienced cleaner air and agreed that they did not want to go back to the air pollution levels that Oxford previously recorded.

The City Council asked residents for their views on their thoughts on air pollution in Oxford.

The survey of Oxford residents found:

  • 62% believe that air pollution is a very big or fairly big problem in their local area
  • 74% agree or strongly agree that during the lockdowns they have experienced cleaner air and don't want to go back to the air pollution levels that Oxford previously recorded
  • 70% agree or strongly agree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution, even if it means preventing polluting cars from entering the city
  • 70% agree or strongly agree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution even if this requires reallocating public space to walking, cycling and better transport
  • 56% increased their amount of walking and cycling during lockdown, for both exercise and transport
  • 64% agree or strongly agree that they would like to continue or increase the amount of walking and cycling they do both as a form of exercise and transport

Over the past year, air pollution levels in Oxford dropped by an average of 29% - achieving the lowest levels of air pollution since this data was first monitored in 1996.

The 29% reduction in air pollution levels is equivalent to the level of reduction achieved during the ten-year period between 2009-2019.

The survey results

The City Council received 203 responses to the survey, which was carried out between 21 May 2021 and 13 June 2021.

The Oxford Residents’ Panel is a representative cross- section of 549 Oxford’s residents. The main aim of the Residents Panel is to ensure the views of a wide range of residents are reflected in consultations that the Council runs.

The recruitment process of the Residents Panel is handled by Ipsos MORI.

The Oxford Residents’ Panel is an additional online form of gaining informal feedback on projects in Oxford, as well as providing an insight to public attitudes. It can be used alongside and is not used as a substitute for formal public consultation.

Residents who are a member of the panel, can have their say on local issues by completing online surveys. They may also be invited to take part in virtual focus groups.

Members from the Resident’s Panel were also selected to participate in the Oxford Citizens Assembly on Climate Change, which occurred in 2019.

Oxford residents agree air pollution is an important issue

The City Council asked the residents panel, how much of a problem was air pollution in their local area.

Table showing how much of a problem residents think air pollution is in their local area

Very big problem

40

Fairly big problem

86

Not a very big problem

54

Not a problem at all

20

Don’t know

3

In total 62% of residents who responded believe that air pollution is a very big or fairly big problem in their local area. There have been several studies produced over the years that have tried to estimate the true health impacts of air pollution in Oxford.

In April 2014, a report issued by Public Health England estimated that long term exposure to anthropogenic particulate air pollution in Oxford could be responsible for 6% of all deaths of people aged 25 and over.

Tackling air pollution

The City Council asked residents panel members about their thoughts on measures to improve air pollution across the city.

Table showing residents' thoughts on measures to improve air pollution across the city

 

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Don’t know

To what extent do you agree or disagree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution, even if it means preventing polluting cars from entering the city

85

58

19

21

19

1

To what extent do you agree or disagree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution even if this requires reallocating public space to walking, cycling and better transport

90

53

16

22

20

2

In total 70% of residents who responded agree or strongly agree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution, even if it means preventing polluting cars.

Following that, 70% of residents who responded agree or strongly agree that Oxford must take effective measures to protect citizens from air pollution even if this requires reallocating public space to walking, cycling and better transport.

In January 2021, the City Council’s Cabinet approved the adoption of a new Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for the city, replacing the old plan which expired in December 2020.

Under the new Action Plan, the Council set its own voluntary target for 30 µg/m3 of NO2 to be achieved, by 2025 at the latest—going far beyond the current national legal target set out by the UK Government of 40 μgm-3.

The introduction of key schemes such as the Zero Emission Zone, which is set to start this August, and Connecting Oxford both aim to reduce traffic levels and improve air quality across the city through reprioritising road space and encouraging more cycling, walking, and use of public transport.

Lockdown experiences

The City Council asked about people’s experiences of air quality during the lockdowns.

Table showing people’s experiences of air quality during the lockdowns

 

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Don’t know

During the lockdown I felt the air was cleaner and I don’t want to go back to the air pollution levels previously experienced

75

77

21

18

9

3

During the pandemic, I increased the amount of walking and/or cycling I did as a both as a form of exercise and transport

60

54

33

24

24

8

I would like to continue or increase the amount of walking and/or cycling I do both as a form of exercise and transport.

72

59

31

16

16

9

In total 74% of residents who responded agree or strongly agree that during the lockdowns they have experienced cleaner air and don't want to go back to the air pollution levels that Oxford previously recorded.

During the first lockdown, Oxford saw reductions of up to 60% in NO2 levels, the main pollutant of concern, primarily from a significant reduction in fossil fuel traffic – this is the lowest level recorded in the city since Oxford’s air quality was first monitored in 1996.

In total 56% of residents who responded to the survey agreed or strongly agreed that lockdown increased their amount of walking and cycling, for both exercise and transport purposes.

In follow up, 64% of residents who responded agree or strongly agree that they would like to continue or increase the amount of walking and cycling they do both as a form of exercise and transport.

"The results from our panel survey is clear, our mini-Oxford wants the city's air to stay the cleanest that they've known since records began in 1996. Residents want this Council to take effective measures to protect public health by cleaning our air, and that includes preventing polluting cars from entering the city and stimulating active travel. Ahead of Britain's first Zero Emission Zone launching this August, residents are clear that they no longer want to taste the traffic and withstand another invisible threat to public health."

Councillor Tom Hayes, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Green Transport and Zero Carbon at Oxford City Council

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