Council provide no proof of air quality benefits

We asked the Council what quantifiable evidence it could point to that indicates that CPZs in the borough improve air quality and what the specific figure is compared to areas that are not in such zones.  We said that the Council cannot point to any quantifiable evidence of the environmental benefits of CPZs because the Council doesn’t have any and that there is not a single study (academic or commissioned) mentioned.

The Council said that it "does not hold specific information related to this query, and the initial response failed to state this."  The Council go on to provide further context:

"London operates under the London Local Air Quality Management (LLAQM) framework, which is managed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) and is the statutory process used by all London boroughs to review and improve air quality.

As part of their responsibilities for managing air quality local authorities, such as Barnet has developed an Air Quality Action Plans (AQAP) to address local issues. These plans often involve various traffic management measures, which includes parking controls. 

Parking controls, such as controlled parking zones (CPZs) are used to balance parking pressures and to support residents and businesses in their ability to park.

CPZs contribute to delivering the:

Central government, primarily through the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs[ (Defra), has strongly encouraged and mandated local authorities to use measures like Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) and Clean Air Zones (CAZs) as key strategies for managing traffic-related air pollution and improving public health.

Targeting Polluting Vehicles: CPZs, often working with Low Emission Zones (LEZs) or CAZs, help restrict the most polluting vehicles from sensitive areas, leading to significant health benefits, according to guidance from  Defra https://laqm.defra.gov.uk/assets/pb13578laqmpracticeguidance3090216.pdf"