Air quality action zones near M1 being removed after motorway upgrade

DROP IN POLLUTION NEAR JUNCTIONS FOLLOWS IMPROVEMENTS

FORMER dangerously polluted areas alongside the M1 through Derbyshire are set to have air quality action zones removed after two decades.

The areas around Derby Road’s crossing of the M1 through Long Eaton and Sandiacre have been subject to air quality improvement action since 2001.

This was due to dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide identified in each area, suspected to have been caused by heavy traffic and congestion on the M1.

A total of around 135 houses fall within the air quality action zones, most of which lie in Long Eaton, north and south of Derby Road, backing on to the M1.

The zone in Derby Road, Sandiacre, includes around five homes and sits to the north of Junction 25 of the M1, while the zone in Derby Road, Long Eaton, includes around 130 homes to the south of Junction 25.

However, a report to Erewash Borough Council now details that nitrogen dioxide levels in both areas are now “consistently and significantly below the air quality objective”.

It says the possibility of levels of nitrogen dioxide getting back to dangerous levels again in the two areas is “not considered likely” due to improvements to the M1 through Derbyshire, particularly around Junction 25.

The report says: “Since designation, measured concentrations of nitrogen dioxide within the air quality management areas have fallen progressively over successive years following completion of carriageway widening between Junctions 25 and 28 of the M1 motorway in 2010 and the introduction of variable speed limits in 2011.

“More recently, the completion of carriageway improvements in February 2019 and the introduction of ‘smart’ motorway technologies to the north and south of Junction 25 are also expected to improve traffic flows further, reduce congestion and improve air quality in and around the two air quality management areas.”

Smart motorway upgrades in particular are expected to help matters due to the ability to control traffic flows and reduce congestion – meaning engines are not idling in one spot – throughout high demand periods.

This has seen consultants hired by the borough council to recommend that the authority liaises with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to “revoke” the order designating the two air quality management areas.

DEFRA has responded to the council to say: “On the basis of the evidence provided by the local authority the conclusions reached are acceptable for all sources and pollutants and the proposed revocation of the AQMAs is supported.”

The report details that the council has 672 analysis tubes installed at the two sites which are overseen by Staffordshire Highways Laboratory at a cost of £3,504 a year.

These would remain in place even if the two areas are no longer designated as air quality management areas, to ensure pollution levels do not surge to dangerous heights again.

A spokesman for Derbyshire police said yesterday: “We were called to reports of a concern for safety to an address at Fabis Close in Swadlincote just before 7.30am on Sunday, January 9.

“A man was arrested in connection with the incident and taken into police custody. He has since been released, with no further action to be taken.”

It was reported that a number of police cars were seen in the street, including at least three 4x4 vehicles.