‘It’s very dirty here.You can’t open windows... it goes black’
Our reporter Philip Dewey visited Hafodyrynys Road in Crumlin last month to find out what it’s like to live on Wales’ most polluted street...
NESTLED between Blackwood and Pontypool, Hafodyrynys Road, in Crumlin, has already breached EU air pollution limits 57 times in 2017.
The street itself, situated on a steep hill leading towards the village of Hafodyrynys, is like any typical Valleys road, lined with terraced housing and views across neighbouring villages. But for many of the residents, life has become unbearable, with some claiming to feel like prisoners in their own homes.
Black dust covers walls and windows of the worst-affected houses which, despite the best efforts of homeowners, will never be completely removed.
Traffic is constant, with heavy goods vehicles frequently rumbling past. There is no respite, even outside rush-hour periods.
Resident Gloria Matthews, 60, has lived here for 17 years. During that time, she says, the traffic has more than doubled.
“It’s very dirty around here. You can’t open the windows at all because of the noise and the pollution. It goes black in here and obviously we must be breathing it in.”
She added: “My partner has passed away now, but he suffered with his chest walking up this hill – he said himself he could taste the pollution in the air.
“When I go to bed, the window has to be kept shut in summer. I struggle to sleep. I try to get used to the noise but when you get heavy goods vehicles coming down there, it wakes you up.
“In the last 17 years the traffic has doubled and it’s not going to get any better.
“The houses don’t sell well, so we won’t get much value on them. I can’t afford to buy a place elsewhere.”
Kevin Jones, 48, who has lived in the road for three and a half years, says his biggest concern is the speed of the traffic. Requests for speed bumps and speed cameras have been turned down.
Mr Jones said: “They won’t do it because they don’t want cars slowing down. They want people through as quickly as possible.
“There are definitely effects as a result of the pollution. My partner never had any health or heart issues until we moved in, but she has been to hospital four times and they have identified that she has a leaky valve, which is definitely exaggerated because of the nitrogen dioxide.
“The traffic is just a constant drone, you can’t open your windows on the side of the house facing the road.
“I don’t see how a relief road would work. I would think the ideal solution is compulsory purchase and to make this a dual carriageway because there are no issues at the top.”
A spokesman for Caerphilly council said: “This is a strategic cross-valley route carrying a high volume of traffic every day and the unique topography and steep gradient of the road also adds to the elevated levels of air pollution.
“We understand the concerns of residents and we are working with the local community to develop an air quality action plan. This plan will consider a number of options to help address the problem in the future.”
It is believed compulsory purchase of the 23 houses closest to the road is one of a number of options being considered by Caerphilly council, but the local authority wouldn’t confirm this.
The Welsh Government said it is firmly committed to reducing emissions and improving air quality across Wales.