Greens find dangerous pollution across city

26 April 2016

Campaigners worried about the level of deadly air pollution in St Albans have taken matters in to their own hands, by measuring pollution levels with specialist equipment. They've found that pollution exceeds EU limits in half the locations they tested.

St Albans Green Party members, led by Councillor Simon Grover, put up nitrogen dioxide detectors for two weeks in strategic locations around the city centre.

Lab analysis showed that in over half the locations, including outside a primary school, the level of nitrogen dioxide exceeded the EU limit, which is 40 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The worst offending area was the Peahen junction at the top of Holywell Hill, with pollution more than double the limit. Other locations that exceeded the limit were Alban City School, Catherine Street, Ashley Road roundabout, and a location further down Holywell Hill. All the other locations were within but close to the legal limit.

Councillor Grover said, "Latest figures from the European Environment Agency show that over 100 people a year in St Albans District are dying from air pollution. The Government and our local council have a duty to act on this, but they are failing to do so."

Councillor Grover said by taking measurements themselves, which were professionally analysed, campaigners hoped to raise the profile of this deadly problem. "Nobody is safe from air pollution. Even inside a car, the pollution levels from atmospheric fumes can be dangerous. It's in everyone's interests that we take steps to keep heavily polluting vehicles out of our city, ease congestion, and make it more attractive for people to walk or cycle.

"Greens would like to see a low emission zone to control heavy, dirty lorries. We'd like investment in our pavements and cycle lanes to make them safer and more pleasant to use. And we'd like a city-wide 20mph limit, to smooth out traffic flow and make the roads more of a shared space for all users."