Drive to cut town centre fumes (From Oxford Mail)

Drive to cut town centre fumes

5:17pm Thursday 8th January 2009

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Experts have come up with ways to try to solve air pollution problems in the centre of Abingdon, including proposing a park and ride service for the town.

The Vale of White Horse District Council yesterday revealed an action plan to tackle the high nitrogen dioxide levels in High Street, Stert Street, Stratton Way, the Vineyard and part of Ock Street.

'We’re talking about damage to the young, to the elderly, that can be avoided'

Richard Webber

The ideas include urging Oxfordshire County Council to build a southern relief road for the town, with a new bridge on the River Thames.

Other suggestions include widening Drayton Bridge and for the A34 Lodge Hill interchange, north of the town, to become a full four-way junction, allowing drivers to avoid travelling through the town centre.

Richard Webber, the district council’s member for environmental health, said: “We have looked long and hard at what can and might be done to improve air quality in the town.

“Of course, not all the measures are included in our direct remit and many may not happen overnight.

“Some proposals will need more detailed work to see if they’re feasible, whereas others will involve working with, and trying to influence, partner organisations to incorporate the measures in their future plans.”

He stressed that the problem was only slightly above the normal level of pollution found in towns like Abingdon.

He added: “We’re not talking of people dying in the streets. We’re talking about damage to the young, to the elderly, that can be avoided.”

Other ideas include introducing a low-emission zone and developing a park and ride scheme to cut car traffic.

The council also wants to encourage car sharing and for schools and businesses to develop travel plans.

People have until February 19 to have their say on the plan.

It can inspected online on the district council’s website at whitehorsedc.gov.uk The town centre was first declared an air quality management area in 2006.

The Abingdon Integrated Traffic Strategy was introduced the same year, in the hope that it would tackle the problem.

Despite nitrogen dioxide levels in High Street and Stert Street falling, other areas of the town have got worse.

Mr Webber said: “From the introduction of the strategy, there’s been less congestion.

“But one of the general impacts has been some of the traffic has been held back.”

abingdon@oxfordmail.co.uk

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