No to revoking Cogan's Air Quality Action zone.
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| Anne Greagsby with Max Wallis at the Cogan NO2 sensor |
This Vale Council proposal stems from NO2 pollution levels in 2016 being below the legal limit in 2016, according to the new annual report to Cabinet on 9th October
Barry & Vale FoE strongly oppose revoking the AQMA (Air Quality Management Area). They argue
## the Vale excludes high readings on Cogan hill, at the shops in the old Cogan Docks station. The problem comes mainly from queuing traffic up to Barons Court, which needs tackling.
## the Welsh government now says the ‘normal’ high levels of NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) in Cogan are not 'safe', including when just below the legal limit. It means Cogan still has a problem.
Barry&FoE wrote to Cllr Geoff Cox, the Cabinet member responsible for traffic pollution, urging the Council take seriously the new Welsh policy:
We notice that the report to Cabinet does not point out the tighter policy guidance on LAQM announced in June (Local air quality management in Wales. Policy guidance PG(W)(17)).
This says the national air quality objectives are not ‘safe’ levels of air pollution, though the VoG policy till now has been to accept levels within those out-dated 'objectives'.
It adds that the Welsh government encourages Local Authorities or regional groupings "putting in place a local or regional air quality strategy... to keep levels of air pollution as low as reasonably practicable".
the Council has to consult with the local community and to demonstrate that the legal limits ("objectives") are being met and will continue to be met (Policy Guidance s.4.14).
FoE points out that the Council data shows the limiting NO2 "objective" was again exceeded at the Marine Scene monitoring point (44.4 in 2016, compared with the 40 legal limit). This position is at shops which people pass and where shop-workers stay for extended periods, opposite approved new housing development, and on essential "active travel" routes for walking and cycling between Cogan and Penarth Haven/Pont y Werin bridge. This stretch of road should, FoE believe, be included in the AQMA and action taken to manage the polluting traffic queues.
# Air Pollution levels in Cogan high alarmingly
Friends of the Earth’s special pollution monitoring found alarming levels of NO2 pollution on Windsor Road in Cogan in February 2017. Preliminary results show levels (61) were 50% higher than the annual limit of 40 microgrammes per cu metre.
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| Roadside monitor at Cogan Bus-stop. |
The Cogan results were from a monitor at the town-wards bus stop, where people are exposed crossing to the bus, waiting for it and even sitting in it. The level appears rather higher than the Council results from sensors on house frontages in the same road. FoE will therefore undertake further monitoring and cross-check the results against Council data.
The Council’s air pollution report** of August 2016 suggested that results were improving in the Cogan “Management Area” but that may have just been a fluke of the weather.
The Council’s air pollution report** of August 2016 suggested that results were improving in the Cogan “Management Area” but that may have just been a fluke of the weather.
Anne Greagsby assisted with the Cogan monitoring (picture below). She says “The Council has for too long been complacent about harmful levels of vehicle pollution. At last, the Welsh Government tells them it’s not safe for health, so let’s see some serious action.”
Data (lab blank subtracted) Corrected (taking bias factor 0.88**) in µg/m3
Cogan 68.83a 60.6
Murch Cross Rd 39.31 34.6
Crossing by shops 34.34 30.2
(55 Cardiff Rd)
Eastbrook Stn 31.20 27.5
(149 Cardiff Rd)
** bias factor for 2016 was unusually low at 0.78, still to be explained. The bias factor from the VoG’s own continuous monitor in 2016 at Cogan was 0.70, an unexplained difference.
a The VoG diffusion tube results were also likewise very high over January-February
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