Today is Clean Air Day! I know many of you are concerned about the air quality in Southampton as I always have residents writing to me wanting to find solutions. Often these focus around how we can lessen the impact of pollution from cars and traffic.

One of the biggest contributors to air pollution are diesel and petrol vehicles. Unfortunately the new Conservative led council have announced this week that they are set to remove a key part of one of the most vibrant examples of a car free zone we have in our city.

Since being implemented under the last Labour council, the Bedford Place scheme has given valuable space to people wanting to get out and about again after COVID and has turned the area into a destination where people want to spend time. It has also become a cultural centre, with local artists and community groups contributing to public art and planters.

It’s a real shame this is being scrapped right in the middle of summer. I was hoping that they would at least keep it until later in the year when the full impact of the merits it’s brought to our city could be fully evaluated and the wider public consulted.

At a time when so many of our cities across the UK are looking to the future and creating great spaces for people to enjoy, this would seem to be a backward move from this Conservative council.