Thurrock Council is to investigate the borough becoming a ‘Low Emission Zone’, following calls by residents this week.

Resident Matt Jackson stood to ask at Thursday’s full council meeting if the council would introduce a zone following the lead of many neighbouring London boroughs.

In his question he cited an “increasing number of Heavy Goods Vehicles using Thurrock’s road network and a link to decreasing air quality.”

He said this had been illustrated by increased Air Quality Monitoring by the council in recent years.

Portfolio holder for the Environment Councillor Pauline Tolson said a feasibility study would be completed early next year into introducing a zone.

Ms Tolson said: “As one of the elected members, we’re all concerned with the pollution that comes into our society and we want the air in our borough to be as clean as we can possibly have it.

“In light of that, the council is bringing together an Integrated Air Quality and Health strategy for Thurrock outlining our approach to reducing powerful emissions and reducing exposure.”

“Regarding the Low Emission zone, there is some work we are doing around that and we are looking into the possibility for our borough.

“We will be starting a feasibility study shortly and the results will be available around January time.”

The Transport for London website describes a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) as “operating to encourage the most polluting heavy diesel vehicles driving in London to become cleaner.”

The LEZ is said by TFL to cover most of Greater London and be in operation 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Integrated Air Quality and Health strategy is set to be discussed at the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny meeting on November 10.