Fresh concerns over air quality following landmark compensation case

Fresh concerns have been raised about air pollution in Westbury, with Wiltshire Council facing criticism for a lack of proactive measures to address the town’s pollution issues.

It follows the UK government’s decision to compensate Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah for the tragic death of her nine-year-old daughter, who became the first person in the UK to have air pollution cited as a cause on her death certificate.

Westbury councillor Mike Sutton says the government decision “raises matters of concern” over local air quality and that Wiltshire Council, rather than trying to find a solution, are trying to blame Bath for Westbury’s traffic problems which have worsened since the closure of Cleveland Bridge to lorries redirected more traffic onto the A350 through Westbury. Local residents have also joined calls for action.

Speaking about the government compensation, Cllr Sutton said, “It is recognition that air pollution can be a factor in some fatalities and serious health issues, which has implications for Westbury and our air quality.”

He said pollution from heavy traffic through the town was a longstanding concern and warned that the potential construction of a new incinerator would only worsen the situation.

“I do not think Wiltshire Council are actually monitoring (air quality in Westbury), just complaining,” said Cllr Sutton. “They are trying to create a narrative where all the traffic problems can be blamed on Bath, forgetting they did nothing when they had plenty of advance warning from government about what was going to happen in Bath.”

Cllr Sutton noted that Westbury Town Council has been monitoring air quality at various locations around the town and intends to compare these levels to those recorded if the incinerator becomes operational. He expressed frustration at Wiltshire Council’s lack of concrete plans to tackle air pollution beyond the suggestion of a possible bypass.

Resident Toby Hime, who previously lived on West End near Haynes Road, shared how his health had improved significantly since moving from Westbury to Somerset.

“My asthma has improved since my move. In Westbury, I was going to the doctors regularly, and they were monitoring my respiration,” he said. “I could never blow more than 500 on the machine, but here, after a while, I can easily reach 650 due to the clean air.

“We have friends living in our house in Westbury. One day we may return, but I’m not looking forward to going back to black windowsills, a vibrating house, and breathing difficulties again.

“Westbury is the only unbypassed town from Poole to Cirencester. Lorry drivers say there are 13 stopping points going through Westbury where they have to idle and brake, polluting the area. People and wildlife are polluted.”

Another resident, Rodney Langfield, added, “The A350 pollution problem is getting progressively worse, and Westbury is constantly ignored. It must be awful for residents actually living on this main road. I live on The Ham, and that’s horrendous enough — you can triple that on the A350.

“My concern with this is the constant approval of house building in and around Westbury and the complete disregard of the community’s repeated wish that if this housing continues to expand then the developers should at least be funding a plan to ameliorate the consequential pollution and noise. I would be interested to have a response from Wiltshire Council but that seems unlikely now they no longer wish a dialogue with the White Horse News. Democracy?”

While Westbury’s Town Council lacks authority over highways and has limited recourse in controlling the pollution generated by road traffic, Cllr Sutton affirmed the council’s commitment to sustainable transport, encouraging cycling and walking as part of the solution. 

He also emphasised the need for more stringent air quality legislation and questioned current air particulate limits, drawing a parallel to asbestos regulations, where initially permissible levels were later deemed harmful.

“Air particulates will one day be seen as a great risk, and the required level set much too high,” he said, urging government and regulatory bodies to address air quality concerns more proactively to prevent future health crises.

Wiltshire Council was approached for comment, but no response was received due to their ongoing censorship of the White Horse News.