Pollution levels in areas of Wem town centre are breaching European limits it has been revealed, sparking health fears for residents.
Shropshire councillor for Wem, Chris Mellings, told the Chronicle that recent data from Shropshire Council’s environmental protection team suggested that Mill Street in particular had concentrations of nitrogen dioxide which exceed EU air quality standards.
The hotspot is thought to be close to St Peter & St Paul Parish Church and a detailed assessment is now being carried out to establish the likely cause of pollution, thought to be car emissions, before an initial report is presented to cabinet in November.
Early deaths
A full screening review with further data is due in 2012 and if current levels persist, Wem could be declared an Air Quality Management Area and a focused action plan implemented to drive down the figures.
EU rules state that NO2 monitoring stations, which report levels hourly, cannot exceed 200mg per cubic metre more than 18 times in a calendar year.
Civic leaders are concerned for residents’ health after seeing statistics showing that high pollution causes about 35,000 early deaths annually in the UK and reduces average life expectancy by eight months.
“It’s important to improve the flow of traffic through the town centre to minimise queuing at peak times of the day which is obviously the cause of rising pollution here,” said Councillor Mellings.
“We are already working with the council to reduce the number of vehicles that need to travel through Wem and to ensure the high street is as clear as possible for traffic.
“I hope the council will take urgent action to reduce the apparent levels of pollution at this location in particular without having to wait to declare an Air Quality Management Area.”
Town councillor Peggy Carson said: “The volume of traffic along Mill Street is unbelievable and in the evenings the pollution levels must be particularly high.
“You get big hold-ups every day caused by articulated lorries and it must be quite worrying for people who live along there or nearby to hear these figures.”
Edward Towers, mayor of Wem, said: “We are concerned as there are people living nearby and, although it’s important to not take it out of context, we are also mindful that we would want to speak up for these residents because it does need to fall.”
EXCLUSIVE by David Seadon