RESIDENTS across the Dudley borough have been invited to share their thoughts on a new plan to improve air quality and tackle pollution.

A draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) has been produced by Dudley Council as part of the authority’s legal duty to monitor and report on air quality.

The plan outlines steps the council intends to take to cut harmful emissions of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas and particulate matter between 2024 and 2030.

Priorities include improving infrastructure to allow more journeys to be taken by public transport, on foot or via bicycle, the adoption of low emission transport such as electric vehicles, and public awareness of the health risks of air pollution.

Dudley’s previous action plan, from 2011 to 2016, substantially reduced the number of sites in the borough which exceeded the safe annual level of emissions, cutting these from 15 to two.

A new public transport interchange and Metro extension are among current projects aimed at improving Dudley's green infrastructure offering - with more electric vehicle charging points planned to arrive in the next 12 months.

Councillor James Clinton, Dudley Council's cabinet member for public health, said: "Now is the time for people who live, study, or work in Dudley borough to have their say on the plan’s measures. We’ll listen carefully to their feedback and make sure it’s taken into account as we work to reduce harmful emissions.

"If the plan is successful in meeting government targets, the Air Quality Management Area currently covering the borough could be revoked, which would be another sign of real progress in cleaning up our air.

The draft Air Quality Action Plan, and a link to the survey, is available online at www.dudley.gov.uk/aqap.

The survey closes on Monday September 30 at 11.59pm.

Feedback will be used to make any necessary amendments to the action plan and offer a measure of public opinion to the government about changes needed to improve local air quality.