Council under fire as pollution soars (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

Council under fire as pollution soars

10:48am Tuesday 14th July 2009

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THE district council has been slammed for failing to control air pollution in central St Albans.

Speaking after the Review had reported on the extension of an official danger zone around the Peahen cross roads, Green Party leader Simon Grover said: “It is deeply disappointing that the council has completely failed to reduce air pollution in the centre of St Albans.

“In fact, the report they commissioned from environmental consultants shows that pollution has got significantly worse at every place it is measured, from High Street to Watsons Walk, and from Holywell Hill to the top of St Peter's Street.

“The signalling at the Peahen junction is now a source of huge irritation, not to mention ill-health, to drivers and pedestrians alike. It needs to be completely reworked, and the council needs to get serious about some policies to increase use of buses, bikes and feet.

“In the meantime, I would appeal to drivers waiting at the junction to turn off their idling engines.

"Modern car engines use more fuel to idle for ten seconds than they do to restart. Switching off will reduce pollution and your fuel costs.”

Council environment boss Andrew Robertson responded: “The air quality management area order is a positive step towards significantly improving the air quality for residents of and visitors to St Albans.

“ Now that cabinet has approved the new order, an action plan will be drawn up in consultation with Hertfordshire County Council that will contain a detailed package of measures to improve the air quality in the area.”

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