Nitrogen dioxide levels in parts of the town are currently high enough to cause a serious risk to health, warns a new report.
The report to West Norfolk councillors states: “Air pollution can make our environment less attractive and can have serious effects on health. We are aiming to reduce air pollution to levels that do not cause a risk to human health.”
Proposals include altering road layouts to improve congestion on busy streets in South Lynn and Gaywood and a creating a bus only lane from Wisbech Road to Boal Street.
Officials say the aim is to encourage people out of their cars to use other forms of transport.
Other suggestions include encouraging more people to park in West Lynn and catch the ferry, and residents’ only parking in town centre streets to discourage commuters from using them for free parking.
Brian Long, deputy leader of the council, said: “The current levels are not good enough, so it’s important we do all we can to make King’s Lynn a more environmentally friendly place to work and live.”
County councillor Alexandra Kemp, who represents South Lynn, said: “It is essential we start getting more people to walk to work, to use a bicycle or get the ferry from West-Lynn.”
Figures produced by Public Health England link 29,000 deaths in the UK each year to air pollution.
Other proposals include special traffic controls at main junctions to reduce stop and start driving, improve traffic flow and reduce emissions.
A new bus-only lane from Wisbech Road, through The Friars to Boal Street could be used by other vehicles such as taxis.Residents only parking is also being conssidered in the town centre to encourage visitors and workers to use public car-parks, rather than residential streets.
Car parking charges will be investigated, with the aim of evening out peak travel times while also making short trips easy.
Councillors on the regeneration, environment and community panel discuss the report on Wednesday, July 23.
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