A new Air Quality Action Plan for Hereford City is also currently being developed alongside LTP2, the key aim of which is to model the predicted future pollution levels from traffic following a number of actions, many of which are incorporated in the LTP2.
Traffic and air quality in Herefordshire
The data from Herefordshire Council’s monitoring station at the Edgar Street Roundabout clearly shows a direct link between traffic levels and pollution. From our research and data, it is clear that Herefordshire’s air quality problem sites are mainly related to traffic emissions.
Pollution levels at the Edgar Street roadside enclosure can be seen to increase during rush-hour periods, school pick-up times, Christmas shopping weekends and during city centre road works, when congestion is worse.
The council has just released its second Local Transport Plan (LTP2). The key aims of the plan are to improve accessibility, air quality and safety, and ease congestion for the period 2006/7 to 2010/11. This report includes information on air quality and proposes a number of improvements across the county.
Vehicle emissions
If you see a bus, lorry, coach or taxi that has a smoky exhaust
you can report their details to the Vehicle and Operator Services
Agency on (0870) 6060440.
Since 2001, Environmental Health & Trading Standards have worked jointly with the local Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to undertake vehicle exhaust emission testing, usually twice a year off the A49 in Hereford. Over the years, the data from this has shown that vehicle exhausts are actually getting cleaner, with VOSA only having to serve one prohibition notice on the last occasion.
The National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection has just published a leaflet that provides information about Cutting Car Pollution.
If you want to help improve air quality you may also be interested in the Travel Calculator. This will allow you to assess how much you will be polluting the atmosphere when you make a journey.
If you are buying a new car and you want to reduce its impact on global warming, you may be interested in Act on CO2 to help you choose.
External Links
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Government site: DirectGov site giving tips and advice on reducing CO2
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Government site: VOSA provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services for vehicles
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Charity site: NSCA is the environmental protection charity supported by pollution control professionals
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National site: Travel Calculator in association with NSCA and East Sussex County Council
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