"Clean Up Our Air" Says Lib Dem Councillor
November 23, 2004 4:14 PM
Cllr Trudy Dean is calling for action!
Kent County Councillor Trudy Dean is calling for action to clean up air quality at Wateringbury crossroads.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council's Environmental Health Advisory Board received a report at the beginning of the month which detailed areas in the Borough where air quality does not reach national standards. Although the report showed that air quality in the Borough was generally good, nitrogen dioxide levels were exceeded at:
1. The crossroads at Wateringbury
2. The London Road/Station Road junction at Ditton
3. In Tonbridge High Street
A 4th problem area previously identified lies near to M20 at Larkfield, Ditton and Aylesford.
On average, we all breathe 3,400 gallons of air per day. High levels of nitrogen dioxide are thought to be potentially harmful to people with breathing difficulties, and may increase sensitivity to other allergens. The major source of pollution levels in these three locations, the report says, is due to heavy volumes of congested traffic, in locations where properties close to the road create a canyon effect trapping the pollutants.
Whilst similar levels of pollution were identified in other areas of the Borough, no residential properties were affected. Trudy has called for information about monitoring air quality across the Borough. " There must be lots of places where the traffic conditions are similar to Wateringbury crossroads, and I wonder why more hotspots have not been identified."
Since 1996 Local Authorities have a duty to monitor air quality and identify 'Air Quality Management Areas' (AQMAs) where action needs to be taken to reduce pollution levels. Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council officers are recommending creating AQMAs in these three locations following consultation with the parish councils and property owners.
Actions must then be agreed with Kent County Council, as the Highway Authority, to bring pollution levels down. Measures known to reduce pollutants include reducing traffic flows, reducing peak hour congestion, excluding lorries, and maintaining vehicle speeds to avoid pollution caused by stop/start manoeuvres.
Trudy has been campaigning for many years for a lorry ban through Wateringbury, and a partial ban on Bow Road was granted two years ago. Trudy said: "We cannot move the houses at Wateringbury, and the traffic lights are necessary for pedestrian safety. Now we know that heavy urban traffic is causing damaging pollution levels, Kent County Council must finally accept that the need for a total lorry ban through Wateringbury is urgent."
Trudy also pointed out that homeowners within Air Quality Management Areas across the County may suffer a loss in the value of their property unless action was taken to clean up the air quality.