More than 200 sites break pollution laws

Friends of the Earth's latest data audit reveals there are 218 sites across the West Midlands in breach of Air Quality Objectives for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels.

Of the 10 worst areas, six were found to be in Birmingham. But Halesowen Road, in the Netherton area of Dudley had the second worst pollution rate in the region, at 74.1 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

To meet the annual Air Quality Objective, a legally binding limit set by government, the annual average nitrogen dioxide level must be below 40 micrograms per cubic metre.

The figures, which relate to the years 2016 and 2017, show that Dudley had 18 sites breaching the limits, Sandwell 15, Wolverhampton 12, and Lichfield five.

The Shropshire and Wyre Forest Council areas each had four sites breaching the limits, while Cannock Chase and Walsall had one each. The Bargates area of Leominster also exceeded the guidelines.

Wolverhampton's worst area was the junction between Pipers Row and Bilston Street, where the NO2 concentration is 47 micrograms per cubic metre, while Sandwell's worst area was in Great Barr where it averaged 50.3.

In Walsall, Bloxwich Lane was found to be just over the limit at 41.1 micrograms, while Muckley Corner was Lichfield's worst offender at 49.4.

Kidderminster's Horsefair was the only area in Wyre Forest to breach the limit at 59.6 micrograms, while the area around Shrewsbury's Station Hotel had the worst NO2 concentration in Shropshire at 58.5 micrograms.

No breaches were identified in the Telford & Wrekin, South Staffordshire, Stafford or Bromsgrove council areas.

Chris Crean of West Midlands Friends of the Earth said it was unacceptable that so many locations across the region were in breach of the rules, leaving thousands of people breathing dangerously polluted air.

He said: “Air pollution is often an issue thought of as affecting only the biggest cities.

"The reality is that unacceptably toxic air can be found across much of the UK, even in smaller towns.

"It is harming the health of people across the country and is especially bad for young children whose lungs are still developing.

"The Government needs to step up and do more to deal with this air pollution crisis – they can’t just carry on leaving the difficult decisions with local authorities, many of which are severely under-resourced."

Danielle Taylor of Wolverhampton Council said the data appeared to be from 2016 data, where there was an uncharacteristic peak in emissions across the UK.

“Through the council’s on-going monitoring programme, we are able to see a steady improvement in air quality to the point that most Wolverhampton locations now comply with the nitrogen dioxide limit," she said.

“The city has seen many improvements in transport and sustainable travel over recent years and we have been working closely with government to address the areas they predict will continue to breach over the next two years."

She said the Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) was supporting council plans to carry out works around the Wolverhampton ring road.

“Over £3million of investment has been received to enable works to improve the bus fleet and optimise the signals on Bilston Street Island," she added.

“By implementing these measures, it is intended to improve pollution levels with a consequential benefit in public health. Moving forward, the city will see new developments such as the Midland Metro extension, highway improvements and the use of ultra-low emission vehicles, all leading to a cleaner, greener city."

Councillor Cathy Bayton, Dudley Council's cabinet member for health, said improving air quality was a priority.

"We have applied for funding from the Government and were awarded a grant of over £1.5 million in February 2019 which we will use to reduce emissions from buses that travel through areas of poor air quality," she said.

“The money will also be used to make improvements to highways so that traffic flows more freely, which is known to improve air quality. These improvements will take place around Castle Gate and Burnt Tree and Wordsley High Street within the next two years."

Councillor Bayton said the council was also working with the West Midlands Combined Authority to improve public transport, and the Metro extension to Brierley Hill had the potential to reduce car use in the borough.

“We know that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of poor air quality and the council is also purchasing mobile air quality sensors to monitor air quality around schools," she added.

"We will use this information to work with schools, children and parents to develop and implement school specific air quality improvement plans.”

Matthew Clark, environmental protection officer at Shropshire Council said that as of this year there were now two sites in the area which exceeded the pollution limits, in Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.

He said Shrewsbury town centre continued to be a problem, although NO2 levels had fallen from 59 micrograms to 53 during the period between 2016 and 2017.

"Monitoring will continue in this location to indicate if this downward trend will continue," he said.

Improvements had also been seen in Bridgnorth, he added.