Move to tackle air pollution in Ripon
A CONSULTATION on establishing Ripon's first air quality management area to tackle high levels of vehicle pollution has been launched.
In April, Harrogate Borough Council signalled it would be setting up the zone after a survey it commissioned found levels of nitrogen dioxide – caused mainly by traffic fumes – around homes and businesses in Low Skellgate and High Skellgate breached Government objectives, while levels on Westgate were borderline.
'unacceptable levels'
Health risks associated with the pollutant include an increased likelihood of breathing problems, with asthmatics particularly affected, and while the council says there is no immediate cause for alarm its environmental protection officers say the figures are now at unacceptable levels for long-term exposure.
"These are not dangerous levels but if we do not act now then they certainly could be in the long-term future," said Coun Les Ellington, cabinet member for public protection and rural affairs.
Harrogate council is interested to know whether people think the management area should include just Low Skellgate and High Skellgate where the objective is being breached, or also the borderline case of Westgate, and hopes to have the zone established by October.
worries
Among those the council has written to is father-of-two Adrian Woodward, of Low Skellgate, who is concerned for the health of his daughters – the youngest of whom, Olivia, three, has suffered from chest complaints in the past.
"You think it is one of those childhood things but this sort of thing about high levels of pollution worries you," he said. "And if this zone doesn't work, what are the next four or five years going to bring?"
When the management area has been established, a working group including experts on air quality, planning and traffic will be formed to devise an action plan for reducing the level of pollution, implementation of which must begin by the end of next year.
remedies?
But Mr Woodward is unsure just what practical measures can be taken.
"I'm at a loss to suggest anything to remedy the problem," he said. "From a self-interested point of view, I would say pedestrianise the area but realistically it can't be done."
Ripon Civic Society is also taking a keen interest in the consultation and its chairman, David Winpenny, hopes the action plan can form part of a wider approach to traffic management throughout the city.
"What we should be doing is looking at traffic as a whole in Ripon, working out the flows and finding solutions that take traffic away from Low and High Skellgate," he said. "You can't just look at it piecemeal, we want an overall aim with a view to taking traffic away from these problem areas and also attractive parts of the city like the market square."
The consultation documents are available from the council's website at www.harrogate.gov.uk or by phoning 01423 556633. The closing date for comments is September 4.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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