Spot fines for 'polluting drivers'
Motorists in Shrewsbury who sit idle in their cars with their engines running could soon be hit with £60 fines under new plans to improve air quality in the town.
Environmental health chiefs at Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council are proposing the idea as part of a raft of measures under the authority's Air Quality Management Areas, which include the town centre, Heathgates island and the village of Bayston Hill.
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David Spode, manager of pollution at the council, said staff could be granted powers to issue fixed penalty notices to motorists who were found to be unnecessarily creating more carbon emissions.
He said: "It would not be used in a draconian way and we would try to encourage people to turn their vehicles off on a voluntary basis.
"Already there are sign posts in some of the car parks, particularly for coach drivers, asking them to do that.
"It's something that is available as a power to local authorities where there is a need and it's something we will be particularly looking at in the future.
"It certainly wouldn't be related to people queueing at lights but obviously if someone has pulled off the highway for some time with no intention of moving and still keeping their engine running, it's something we could use to stop that happening."
Mr Spode said motor vehicles were one of the biggest contributors to pollution and he said the council was determined to cut down the level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) in the area.
Other proposals for the future include creating another two gyratory systems at Bridge Street/St Austin's Street and at St Julian's Friars – taking the total number to four in the town.
The plans could also see further pedestrianisation of Shrewsbury town centre and identification, mapping and signing of recommended freight routes.
Mr Spode said data recorded from monitoring equipment close to the railway station in Shrewsbury last year showed that the national annual mean value of 40mg/m3 for NO2 was being well breached at Castle Gates and was also exceeded at Bayston Hill.
Members of the council's overview committee will hear an air quality update tomorrow.
By Russell Roberts
