The Air Quality Working Group (AQWG) was formed to examine air quality within Christleton village and its immediate surrounding. The Air Quality Working Group Report and supporting documents are available by following the individual links given at the bottom of this page. A summary of the report is set out below
Summary of Air Quality Report
CWaC’s fixed monitor measurements indicate that that the WHO and UK limit for NO2 of 40ug/m3 have been exceeded in three out of five consecutive years on the A41 and for two consecutive years on the A51
From August through to November a Christleton volunteer has monitored air quality from the A51 through the centre of Christleton to the A41 using a handheld Plume device which measures Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2), 10micron particles(PM10) and 2.5micron particles(PM2.5). Although these Plume devices have indicated that NO2 concentrations are at or below the NO2 limit at all locations from the A41 to the A51 they have revealed that PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations are at or well above the PM10 and PM2.5 limits at peak times at four hotspots.
- The centre of the village
- The centre of the village down Pepper St, the A41 cycle path and across the Hamburger
- Littleton A51 junction to VX Golf Club
- Little Heath Road to the A51
All of these locations are routes to schools for schoolchildren
Data gathered indicates that NO2 and PM10 concentrations are almost wholly traffic related whilst PM2.5 concentrations are 30/40% traffic related and 60/70% are from a wide range of other sources.
As exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 levels, above the WHO and DEFRA limits, has serious long term health implications these results are being shared with CWAC who will be asked to support:
- Continuous monitoring of PM10 and PM2.5 as well as NO2
- Actions based on an inevitable reduction in DEFRA limits for PM10 and particularly PM2.5 particles
- Air Quality Management Area(AQMA) status for the A41 and A51
- Air Quality Management Plans for the A41 and A51
- Signage to direct traffic via the M56/M6 rather than down the A41 and A51
- Increased priority for building of a link road to bypass Littleton
- Creation of additional lane from the A41 directly on to A55 with no lights
- Create an additional lane from the Hamburger to the A41.
- Improvements in control of the Hamburger to reduce queueing on the A41
- A delay in the upgrade to the A51 until sufficient NO2 and PMs measurements have provided a clear understanding of the effect of increased traffic flows on air quality
- Essential improvements to the A51 roundabout including switching off of the internal lights
- Plans to reduce traffic flow through the centre of Christleton
- Park and Stride
- Alternative cyclist and pedestrian routes to school
The levels of pollution identified in this report from the A41 through Christleton Village centre to the A51 is comparable to larger urban locations like Bolton, Bournemouth, Leicester, Edinburgh, Manchester, Newcastle, Liverpool, Bristol to name just a few of over seventy locations throughout the UK.
Failure to take these Christleton and Littleton actions will result in fine particles continuing to penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system of children with long term health consequences.
The individual attachments to the Air Quality Working Group Report are given below. Each one can viewed or downloaded from the following links:
Attachment 1 – NO2 extract from WHO air quality guidelines
Attachment 2 – PMs extract from WHO air quality guidelines
Attachment 3 – National air quality objectives and European Directive limits
Attachment 4 – Short term exposure to fine particulate matter PM2.5
Attachment 5 – Air Quality measurements-Aug 1-Nov 24 2019
Attachment 6 – Comparison of measurements with concentration limits
Attachment 7 – Map location of hotspots
Attachment 8 – Centre of Village NO2,PM10,PM2.5 versus traffic volume
Attachment 9 – Executive summary of DEFRA PM2.5 Document
Attachment 10 – Sources of PM2.5
Attachment 11 – PM2.5 UK Seasonal variations
Attachment 12 – Extent of existing Chester AQMA