Dunchurch air pollution threat from David Wilson Homes

Rugby Borough Council has backed the conclusions of Richard Dickson and Peter Eccleson about the impact of David Wilson Homes' development on the Dun Cow Junction.

Richard Dickson (Liberal Democrat prospective parliamentary candidate for the southernmost part of Rugby, including Dunchurch) has listed the impact of the scheme on air quality as one of six ways in which the scheme would be bad for Dunchurch - see http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/945690/six-ways-in-which-david-wilson-homes-proposals-will-be-bad-for-dunchurch .

Chair of the Parish Council, Peter Eccleson, specifically raised the issue of air quality at the council's November meeting - see http://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2014/945569/dunchurch-parish-council-meeting-condemns-dun-cow-junction-plans .

Now the concerns they raised have been backed by Rugby Borough Council. The Council's monitoring of air quality reveals that the Dun Cow junction has the worst air quality in Rugby. Concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in the air are higher than national health standards. Nitrogen dioxide should not exceed 40 micro-grams per cubic metre yet the Council's regular monitoring of the Dun Cow junction shows levels of 47 micro-grams per cubic metre.

Nitrogen dioxide is a by-product of running a vehicle engine. Where there is traffic congestion nitrogen dioxide levels rise. (The second highest level of nitrogen dioxide in Rugby is to be found around the gyratory.) Even the local tories admit that "… the main air quality issue in Rugby is traffic-related nitrogen dioxide".

The government's own website, see below, says that nitrogen dioxide "… irritate[s] the airways of the lungs, increasing the symptoms of those suffering from lung disease". The Sunday Times quotes the professor of environmental health at Kings College London. Prof Kelly is more forthright than the ministry. Prof Kelly is reported as saying "… levels of nitrogen dioxide … were substantially shortening the lives of vulnerable people such as those with asthma, heart problems and lung disease" adding that nitrogen dioxide "is a contributory factor to the development of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease" (30 November, 2014 page 16). [The Rugby Liberal Democrat web team would like to give you a direct link to this article but it sits behind Rupert Murdoch's paywall.]

Rugby Borough Council's environmental services team have criticised David Wilson Home's environmental impact assessment of their proposed Ashlawn Road development. David Wilson Homes are quoting a nitrogen dioxide level at the Dun Cow junction of only 31 micro grams per cubic metre. This is significantly below the level found by Rugby Borough Council. As a result the environmental services team have lodged an objection to the development. The objection is what is known as a "holding objection" and may be withdrawn later.

Links

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs conclusion about nitrogen dioxide http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/air-pollution/effects .

News about the forthcoming report by the committee on the medical effects of air pollutants http://www.airqualitynews.com/2014/12/05/uk-nitrogen-dioxide-mortality-figures-due-next-year .