Green scheme will improve pollution at Peahen junction

Luke, who is fascinated by cars, had counted how many vehicles we had ‘beaten’ up the hill and celebrated with a bizarre victory dance, much to amusement of several early drinkers looking out from the Peahen.

His smile was soon wiped from his face, however, when the lights changed to green and the vehicles began to accelerate, leaving us with that hideous smell that only cars, buses and HGVs can provide.

As Luke put his hand over his mouth and looked up, my mind was immediately sent back to an article uploaded on our website the day before (see related article below).

The story highlighted a campaign launched by the Green Party which aims to reduce pollution at the Peahen junction.

A very worthy cause indeed as far as my son is concerned.

The campaigners all wore face masks in our photograph, at the time I assumed they had used them to illustrate their message, but as I crossed the road with smoke in my throat, someone with a spare pair could have quite literally named their price.

As far I am concerned, the boot has long been on the other foot and that boot has been on the accelerator or brake pedals of my car as I approached the notorious junction.

When I do go out in the city centre it is usually to one of the pubs in the evening and by this time the rush hour traffic has all but disappeared.

Therefore, despite being aware of the congestion and pollution problems, I have been wrapped up in my own little bubble - or should I say family saloon.

However, I have seen plenty of traffic surveyors in the last year who must have reported their findings back to St Albans District Council.

Yet nothing of any note appears to have been done. The Green Party wants motorists to turn off their engines as they climb the hill, a move which will immediately reduce pollution, but surely the junction needs to be changed?

The district council plans to look at its air quality assessment at its next cabinet meeting and I cannot imagine that the findings will be favourable.

The crossroads have also been deemed a ‘danger zone’ due to the pollution levels and the air quality management area which covers this section has already been extended.

Previous air quality readings have shown that nitrogen dioxide – an aggravating factor of asthma and other breathing related illnesses - is likely to exceed safe levels by 2010.

Retailers are also facing an uphill battle – no pun intended – because people do not want to shop in an area so heavily polluted.

For the time being I shall adopt St Albans Green Party member Simon Grover’s advice and switch off my engine as I wait at the junction.

It may not seem like a lot but if it makes pacing up and down the hill more enjoyable for pedestrians, I am all for it. Let us hope, however, that St Albans District Council has a long term plan for the sake of our traders, city and children.

WHO says there is no community spirit in St Albans? When we launched our Raise the Roof appeal for St Michael’s church last week I had hoped that a week in we might have generated several hundred pounds.

For that reason we were obviously delighted when Reverend Brett Gray told us on Friday that we had raised more than £1,000.

So imagine our surprise on Monday when totted up the latest donations and realised that more than £5,000 had now been pledged.

This included a £500 cheque sent straight to the Review’s newsdesk.

Our appeal - backed by the Bishop of St Albans Alan Smith - shows what is possible when a community rallies around.

The fact that so much money has been raised in such a short period of time in the middle of a global recession is even more incredible.

When he became the first person to donate last week, the Rt Reverend Alan Smith said our appeal was: “A wonderful example of the commitment of a newspaper to its community.”

I believe that, in the last week, our readers have just shown a wonderful commitment to its church. On behalf of St Michael’s, thank you.