The struggle to improve air quality in Bath
This blog updates one we posted in March 21:
Poor air quality is the greatest environmental risk to public health in the UK. Following a Direction from Central Government to B&NES to reduce nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels below the legal limit as soon as possible and by the end of 2021 at the latest, the Bath Clean Air Zone (CAZ) came into force on 15 March 2021 as part of the Council’s Clean Air Plan (CAP).
A recent report to B&NES Council contains encouraging news that NO2 levels within the CAZ have reduced by 14% compared with 2019. The picture is complicated by the impact on traffic of Covid (less bus use) and the closure of Cleveland Bridge for repairs, which has diverted traffic. However, in parts of the city centre and elsewhere, NO2 levels remain above the legal limit and NO2 has even increased in some places. So it is clear that the target of achieving legal compliance by the end of 2021 will not be met.
In the longer term, there are other uncertainties. The CAZ does not apply to cars. Older HGVs, buses and vans will still be able to come into Bath so long as they pay. Low Traffic Neighbourhoods could displace traffic onto the network, adding to congestion and air pollution there.
The CAP is designed to reduce NO2 below the legal limit. If the plan fails to do that, B&NES will have to take further action until it does. The Council may have to consider moving to a Class D CAZ (to include private cars), or traffic reduction measures including more radical steps such as road user pricing.
However, even if the CAP succeeds in bringing air pollution below the legal limit, it will have a limited and diminishing effect on the traffic congestion that blights the city. That is a problem that remains to be tackled. Nor will levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) be reduced, as required by the Council’s Climate Emergency declaration, unless the overall volume of traffic in Bath is reduced and/or it switches in a significant way to electric propulsion, as even NO2 compliant vehicles produce CO2!
And the situation is made worse by the emission of rubber tyre and road dust, which not only pollutes major organz including the lungs but ends up in the oceans and coating the ice caps hastening their melt by darkening them.
This is too serious a problem to just tickle at. It needs a serious integrated transport plan that enables access for all by train, bus, walking and cycling. Difficult but essential for people and the environment