Four areas of town fail air quality test

FOUR areas of the town have been identified as pollution hotspots.

Checks by the council found levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air to be higher than the recommended limit around Broken Cross roundabout, Chester Road near the Oxford Road roundabout, Hibel Road – from the Silk Road to Churchill Way – and Park Lane, between South Park Road and Hobson Street.

Cheshire East will now draw up action plan to tackle each air quality management area (AQMA) and have contacted residents for feedback.

Coun Mick Warren, Macclesfield East councillor, said: “Nitrogen dioxide can increase symptoms of respiratory conditions such as asthma and bronchitis. Without major investment to improve the road infrastructure, the 3,000 new homes planned for Macclesfield will exacerbate the situation, traffic flow will get worse and more AQMAs will follow.”

Coun Paul Bates, cabinet member for communities and health, said the council is developing an action plan and working with residents.

A drop-in session will take place at the Broken Cross Club, Fallibroome Road, on January 10 from 2pm to 8pm, and information will be displayed in Macclesfield Library between January 13 and 30.

The consultation and information is at cheshireeast.gov.uk/air_ quality_consultation.

Contact the air quality team on 0300 123 5015 or via airquality@ cheshireeast.gov.uk.