Residents and local business to be consulted on pollution

RESIDENTS and businesses affected by upcoming measures to tackle air pollution in a Bridgend road will soon be consulted on the plans.

Park Street, which was recently named the county’s most polluted street, could see access restrictions and junction/traffic signal changes.

At a Bridgend County Borough Council (BCBC) cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 20, cabinet members approved an AQMA designation order for Park Street which will begin on January 1, 2019.

Residents will have the chance to have their say on plans to reduce pollution levels and make their own suggestions for improvements.

According to Welsh Government policy guidelines, BCBC has to produce a draft action plan within 18 months of the order starting and the action plan must be formally adopted within two years.

Shared Regulatory Services carry out the monitoring of ambient air quality for nitrogen dioxide on behalf of BCBC.

The analysis of air pollution levels was based on data collected during 2017 but officers say data from this year already shows high figures and the likelihood of further air quality breaches.

On one location in Park Street, by Cae Dre Street, the annual average levels were 41.5 g/ m3 and in another close by, it was 37.6 g/m3.

The legal limit for nitrogen dioxide emissions is 40 g/m3.

The designated area for the order on Park Street begins at the junction with Cae Dre Street and runs almost up to the St Leonard’s Road junction.