Residents And Council Join Forces To Help Improve Air Quality

A group of residents came together with representatives from Caerphilly County Borough Council earlier this week to look at steps that can be taken to improve air quality in Hafodyrynys. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The ‘steering group’ were also joined by representatives from neighbouring councils and Public Health Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Air quality monitoring in Hafodyrynys began in 2009, and following a detailed assessment of air quality, part of Hafodyrynys Road was designated as an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ in November 2013. Improvements to the A467/A472 Crumlin junction were also undertaken to address peak time congestion, as well as to improve journey time reliability for public transport. The recently completed scheme is likely to achieve benefits in terms of air quality. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In addition, an area designated as an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ requires an ‘Air Quality Action Plan’ containing key actions aimed at reducing levels of nitrogen dioxide (mainly caused by traffic) within the area. This week’s steering group meeting was the initial step in producing the action plan, where residents were also able to express their concerns and explore suggestions to help remedy the poor air quality situation, which will be assessed for inclusion in the action plan. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member and Chair of the ‘Steering Group’ Cllr Nigel George said, “We of course acknowledge that while some improvement works have been carried out in the area, there is still much more that needs to be done. That’s why we were pleased to come together with local residents and our partners to explore initial ideas. This is very much the start of the process, but I would emphasise that with the support of the community and our partners, we remain committed to doing all we can to help improve the air quality situation”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillors also agreed to support a Notice of Motion at a meeting of Council on Tuesday 19th July, put forward by Cllr Andrew Lewis which requested, ‘I call on CCBC to take all remedial action urgently, to improve air quality on Hafodyrynys Road’. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is likely the Air Quality Action Plan for Hafodyrynys will be in draft form by November, when community members and other interested parties will be invited to participate in a consultation on the draft contents. The revised plan will then be submitted to Welsh Government for consideration in March 2017. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​