Welsh Government launches consultation on plans to improve air quality
"Practical interventions to raise awareness of air pollution sources and mitigating actions can help everyone to reduce their exposure and contributions to air pollution."
"Our national air quality strategy, the Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales, describes how the Welsh Government is addressing air pollution challenges."
He said: "I am publishing for consultation a draft Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan which sets out the actions that we, and our partners, will take to raise awareness of and tackle air pollution.
"We have co-produced the draft Plan with a dedicated delivery group chaired by our clean air champion for Wales, Professor Paul Lewis.
"As part of the delivery plan we intend to develop a communications campaign to inform the public about the impacts of domestic burning on health, the environment and the wider community. Our focus will be on sharing clear, evidence-based information to help people make informed choices.
"We also propose to deliver a range of awareness activity around stationary vehicle engine idling which is an offence that can attract a fixed penalty fine.
"We know that the pollution from this causes harm and is a particular concern outside schools and health settings. So today I am also launching a consultation on proposals to improve the way stationary engine idling is addressed, including the introduction of a penalty range for the existing offence."
He said: "To support our awareness raising and behaviour change activity we have identified an annual budget of £575,000 over the three-year lifespan of the Delivery Plan. Additional funding is also available through existing grant schemes including our Local Air Quality Management Support Fund, reinforcing our commitment to tackling air pollution at every level."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
6 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Welsh Government launches consultation on plans to improve air quality
In a written statement Huw Irranca-Davies MS, deputy first minister and cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, said: "The health effects of air pollution have been extensively researched and are well documented. "Practical interventions to raise awareness of air pollution sources and mitigating actions can help everyone to reduce their exposure and contributions to air pollution." "Our national air quality strategy, the Clean Air Plan for Wales: Healthy Air, Healthy Wales, describes how the Welsh Government is addressing air pollution challenges." He said: "I am publishing for consultation a draft Promoting Awareness of Air Pollution Delivery Plan which sets out the actions that we, and our partners, will take to raise awareness of and tackle air pollution. "We have co-produced the draft Plan with a dedicated delivery group chaired by our clean air champion for Wales, Professor Paul Lewis. "As part of the delivery plan we intend to develop a communications campaign to inform the public about the impacts of domestic burning on health, the environment and the wider community. Our focus will be on sharing clear, evidence-based information to help people make informed choices. "We also propose to deliver a range of awareness activity around stationary vehicle engine idling which is an offence that can attract a fixed penalty fine. "We know that the pollution from this causes harm and is a particular concern outside schools and health settings. So today I am also launching a consultation on proposals to improve the way stationary engine idling is addressed, including the introduction of a penalty range for the existing offence." He said: "To support our awareness raising and behaviour change activity we have identified an annual budget of £575,000 over the three-year lifespan of the Delivery Plan. Additional funding is also available through existing grant schemes including our Local Air Quality Management Support Fund, reinforcing our commitment to tackling air pollution at every level."
Powys County Times
7 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Welsh Ambulance Service responds to graduate paramedic issue
The Welsh Ambulance Service has responded to revelations that only a third of paramedic graduates are being hired. After figures from this year revealed that recruitment in Welsh Ambulance Service is leaving two-thirds of paramedic graduates without a job after completing their training, the service says it is working to 'find solutions' to the issue. According to data, out of 67 paramedic graduates in Wales this year, only around 20 will be hired, despite the service requesting 86 paramedics to be trained and paid for through Welsh Government funding. The Welsh Liberal Democrats raised the issue as Welsh Lib Dem leader and Senedd Member Jane Dodds wrote to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, calling for an intervention to create more posts to prevent these trained paramedics from being wasted. She said: 'With record response times across Wales, the Welsh Government have an opportunity here to get more trained paramedics responding to incidents. "We cannot afford to lose these highly skilled professionals, especially not at a time when the NHS is under this much pressure. 'It is shocking, despite funding 86 paramedic students to be trained, that less than half will be recruited. At a time when paramedics are desperately needed to help improve ambulance response times, that so few are to be hired is a scandal.' 'The Welsh Government should now step in and ensure that these trained and qualified Paramedics are hired to relieve the strain on the Welsh Ambulance Service.' In response, the Welsh Ambulance Service said it initially found itself unable to offer newly qualified paramedic roles to many graduates due to 'changes' to skill mix, working patterns and the NHS financial landscape. The service added that it is now working in collaboration with Health Education and Improvement Wales and organisations across NHS Wales to offer roles in the 'near future' to those graduates. Carl Kneeshaw, the Welsh Ambulance Service's Director of People, said: 'As a result of changes to skill mix, changes in working patterns and the financial landscape within the NHS, we unfortunately initially found ourselves in the challenging position of not being able to offer newly qualified paramedic roles to a number of recent graduates from Welsh universities. 'However, we have worked in collaboration with colleagues from Health Education and Improvement Wales and partner organisations across NHS Wales to find solutions, and we are really pleased to say that we will be able to offer roles in the near future to those graduates who were successful at interview.'
South Wales Argus
10 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
National Play Day: 'Every child deserves chance to play'
That was the message from a Welsh Government minister on National Play Day, which champions the importance of play in children's lives and calls for accessible and inclusive spaces for all. This year's theme is 'spaces for play'. To mark the occasion, Jayne Bryant, cabinet secretary for housing and local government, visited the Pentref Plant (Children's Village) at the National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. Ms Bryant said: "Play is fundamental to children's development, wellbeing and happiness. "Visiting the Pentref Plant at the Eisteddfod provided a wonderful opportunity to see how play and culture can come together to create meaningful experiences for children. "This National Play Day, it's important to recognise the vital role that quality play spaces have in our communities. "The Welsh Government is providing additional funding to local authorities to improve playgrounds because we are committed to ensuring that, regardless of their background, every child in Wales has access to excellent play facilities." During her visit, Ms Bryant saw children taking part in workshops, creative activities and performances. Dawn Bowden, minister for children and social care, said: "Children have a right to play, play is fun and powerful, and contributes to children's health, happiness and development. "We want a Wales where all babies and children have plenty of rich opportunities to play." Ms Bowden said the Welsh Government has invested £5 million this financial year to improve play spaces.
