30/11/2023
If elected to the Town Council, I would welcome the opportunity to work with the new East Herts administration to improve air quality in Sawbridgeworth.
East Herts Council recently launched an important consultation on its draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) https://www.eastherts.gov.uk/environmental-health/air-quality-action-plan-consultation ( deadline to respond is 13 December) and I wanted to share some high level thoughts on the document.
An area along London Road and Cambridge Road has been identified as an Air Quality Management Area meaning that those living and traveling through this area are exposed to a level of air pollution higher than the maximum level people should be exposed to. The two main area concerns are the double roundabout and the junction with Bell Street. Traffic is identified as the primary cause of air pollution, with diesel vehicles and buses being the main contributors.
East Herts Council must continuously monitor the average level of air pollution. Although a real-time monitor has been promised to Sawbridgeworth to link up with alert systems, this has still not been installed after many months. This should be the first of several real-time monitors - two of which should replace the current air quality collectors at Bell Street and opposite Springhall Road, which provide annual average data that is two years out of date. Having hourly data would enable the Council to identify pollution spikes, allowing for more targeted policy development and effective solution implementation.
In light of recent developments, such as the new Wrenbridge distribution park, East Herts Council should be urged to ensure that proposed solutions are not only effective in the present but also resilient to potential future challenges. An approach that looks forward is crucial for mitigating the impact of new developments on air quality.
Sawbridgeworth Town Council as well as residents should see this consultation as an opportunity to shape a better future for the town and we should invite East Herts Council to make bold decisions and implement ambitious measures. In light of the urgency, we should strongly advocate for bold decisions and immediate investments in initiatives that will significantly support changes in people's travel behaviour. It is crucial to ensure that the necessary infrastructure and services are in place to support this shift promptly.
Both the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and the Hertfordshire Local Transport Plan are key in this transition. If elected, I will be fully committed to ensure that Sawbridgeworth plays a central role in their development.
Adrien Sella
The council have launched a six-week consultation on its proposed Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) in fulfilment of its obligations to meet air quality objective limits under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995 and relevant regulations made under that part and to meet the requirements of the Local Air...
