News

Air quality in Broxtowe remains within target levels despite pollution from roads

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

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Broxtowe’s air quality remains safe after various initiatives by the borough council help to reduce emissions.

Air pollution is big on Broxtowe Borough Council’s agenda, with a 124-page report detailing the area’s problems and successes with tackling air quality.

The two main types of air pollution in the UK are nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.

Both levels of these pollutants in Broxtowe are below the target level, a new report reads.

The council’s cabinet met on Tuesday to discuss the findings.

The council has made its own efforts to reach these lower pollution levels, including buying six new low-emission waste vehicles to replace two older vehicles, installing a cycle track on the Ilkeston Road Recreational Ground and having 189 employees signed up for the Cycle to Work Scheme.

But Broxtowe’s main source of air pollution stems from the M1 Motorway and the A52, used heavily by commuters to travel between Nottingham and Derby.

The council has no authority over these roads but maintains a close relationship with National Highways and Nottinghamshire County Council to monitor air pollution levels and ease congestion.

The air quality report reads: “National Highways has undertaken projects at great expense in the past to improve the air quality within the borough e.g. widening scheme and Smart Motorway scheme.”

As Broxtowe’s roads are managed by the County Council, the borough council does not have the authority to impose or make any changes to the flow or structure of its roads, which may limit their efforts to reduce dangerous pollutants.

Cllr Helen Skinner (Lab) said: “The motorway… we can’t do anything about it and we suffer greatly from that.”

There was some concern over the effectiveness of electric vehicles.

Suzanne Hickey, Chief Environmental Health Officer at the council, responded: “It is constantly improving with technology, that it will improve emissions.

“Obviously, there is a slight issue with electric vehicles because they’re heavier, they do actually contribute to particulate matter emissions… but I am sure, as the technology increases we will continue to see improvements in that area.”

Vehicle exhausts are the main source of nitrogen dioxide being released into the atmosphere, primarily from petrol vehicles.

Particulate matter refers to a mixture of solid particles and droplets of liquid in the air, with the smallest particles being easily absorbed into people’s lungs and which cannot be easily expelled.

Some of these particles are visible to people, like dust, with others not being seen by the naked eye.

Particulate matter tends to come from vehicle exhausts, worn brake pads and tyres, vehicle rust, dust from building sites and bonfires.

Poor air quality can cause short-term and long-term damage to people’s health, from aggravated asthma to strokes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Health effects arising from air pollution cost the NHS and social care around £157 million in 2017.