LOCAL councillor, Mike Sutton, has hit out at Wiltshire Council’s lack of action for decades over improving the air quality in Westbury.
It has been 20 years since Wiltshire Council declared Westbury as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), but cllr Sutton, who is chair of the town council’s highways, planning & development committee, says that nothing has been done in that time.
He explained, “During the past 20 years the actions undertaken by Wiltshire Council to improve air quality within Westbury have been exactly zero – they have not felt able to improve air quality at all. There’s been plenty of rhetoric but no action.
“Many of the decisions made by Wiltshire Council such as in development, planning and the incinerator have actually made things worse. It is now 16 years since the planning inspector threw out their flawed plan for traffic alleviation around Westbury and since then, not a single comment or plan for where that route could be provided. Indeed, it has been left to one of its own members to provide a suggested plan of action.
“Although local actions make some contributions, the major impetus must come from government and unitary authorities.
“Those familiar with the tale of Noah will remember that faced with impending doom, he had the foresight to produce an action plan and complete his ark before calamity struck. I fear that the response of Wiltshire Council would have been to produce a glossy brochure telling everyone how to build a small raft, then put the brochure in a draw and hope it doesn’t rain! We expect and deserve better.”
Wiltshire Council declared Westbury as a AQMA back in November 2001 for exceeding annual average nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels due to air pollution from high volumes of traffic in Warminster Road and Haynes Road.
Any declaration means that further monitoring of that pollutant has to be undertaken and a plan has to be put in place to improve the air quality within it.
In reply to a question from WHN about how the council feels it has improved air quality in the past 20 years, cllr Ashley O’Neill, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for public protection says, “As the main source of the NO2 exceedances in Westbury is due to traffic on the A350, limited improvement in air quality has been able to be achieved without significant reductions in vehicle numbers using this road. Wiltshire Council will continue work with Government to support a bypass for the town. Some improvement to school active travel plans, footpaths and support of electric vehicle charging points on new developments have been achieved.
“Work to develop a new Air Quality Action Plan for all the AQMAs in Wiltshire, including Westbury, was delayed due to the council’s response to Covid -19, however work with stakeholders on developing a new plan will recommence soon.”
Westbury Town Council has raised the issue that Wiltshire Council only monitors oxides of nitrogen in the town by simple “diffusion tubes” which measure the amounts that are absorbed over several months.
Becoming increasingly aware of residents’ air quality concerns, in August 2019 the town council purchased a multi-function “Zephyr” air quality monitor which can be moved around the town to measure pollutants. This device can make recordings of levels of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, ozone and small particles.
Councillors have also asked the public to suggest areas which could be roadside monitored such as outside schools.
Westbury Town Council has also set up its own Westbury Public Air Quality Portal, where you can view and download data. It can be accessed via the town council website, at www.westburytowncouncil.gov.uk/dept/air-quality-monitor/
