Pollution fears hit Broxtowe residents
GOVERNMENT DATA SAYS EMISSIONS WORST IN NOTTS
BROXTOWE residents say they are concerned over new Government pollution figures.
The statistics reveal that Broxtowe has the highest overall emissions per square kilometre in the county, excluding the city.
The area produced 8.8 kilotons of carbon dioxide for every square kilometre in 2019, 3.5 kilotons more than Ashfield, the next highest district.
The area, which includes Beeston, Chilwell, Stapleford and Nuthall, also accounts for 2.7 kilotons more than the UK average of 6.1, and almost five kilotons above the East Midlands average of 3.9.
Glenys Copley, 68, from Attenborough, said: “You see news about the climate on TV but you don’t think about it happening on your doorstep.
“I’m concerned – I’m getting on but I want to live a lot longer. It’s the little ones that you need to worry about – it makes you wonder what’s going to happen.”
James Khan, 30, and Rachel Lowe, 27, both of Chilwell, also said they had worries.
However they say they do their bit to help.
“We do try to reduce emissions ourselves,” said Ms Lowe, a nurse.
“We walk when we can and we use the tram. But it’s hard when you work and you have to travel for these things. It is a mixture of personal responsibility and businesses and authorities but we all need to do our part.
“The main way people can help is by going off the grid but it’s expensive,” Mr Khan added.
A Beeston mum, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I’d like to see an improvement in these figures. Long term it is going to have an effect on the health of people here. My daughter lives here and I don’t want it to affect her.”
Vivian Belcher, 71, of Sandiacre, who visits Beeston weekly to shop, believed the figures were “a byproduct of the success” of the town.
He said: “There’s a lot of traffic going through the centre of Beeston. It’s a busy and vibrant town.”
Broxtowe Borough Council has been approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to press.
The council set up its Climate Change Committee – which aimed to “allow us to act now and deliver an effective strategy, to reduce the council’s carbon footprint and influence, encourage and assist households, businesses and schools within the borough, to strive towards the same goal” – in 2019, according to its website.