Report shows air quality improving

POLLUTION in one of the Valley’s two air contamination hotspots has reduced, meaning special management will soon no longer be needed.

A report - presented to Rossendale council’s cabinet - explained that two Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) were established in 2013 on Manchester Road in Haslingden and on Bacup Road in Rawtenstall as levels of nitrogen dioxide were above safe levels set by the government.

However, Phil Morton, the council’s public protection manager, confirmed that since the introduction of the AQMA, pollution levels on Manchester Road have been consistently below government limits.

He told the meeting: “There are a number of monitoring points around the whole borough. Nitrogen dioxide levels are below the government level. [Air quality monitors] will still be there but we will get rid of the Air Quality Management Area as it’s below the government limit, which is good news.”

The report attributes the improvement to encouraging increased use of public transport, including investment in cycleways as well as a public information campaign.

Air quality objectives were breached three times in the past year at the second management area on Bacup Road, Rawtenstall.

However, the report suggests this may improve in the near future with the Spinning Point town centre redevelopment.

It states: “One of the main hopes with all this redevel- opment is that with the demolition of the existing bus station the ‘canyon effect’ of Bacup Road will be reduced and the nitrogen dioxide will be spread out more - hopefully to below government levels.”

Nevertheless, Coun Barbara Ashworth voiced concerns over increased congestion in other parts of the town.

She said: “We might gain another high pollution area in the Gyratory system in Rawtenstall because there’s a lot more traffic queuing around that now.” ●● Manchester Road in Haslingden Google Maps