Air pollution in Sefton is at dangerous levels which could harm people’s health in four parts of the borough, according to a recent report produced by the council.
Levels of nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter exceed or are close to the annual average standard in four southern areas of the borough.
One of the areas most affected is Princess Way in Seaforth, where planning approval for a block of flats was rejected in 2021 because of concerns around the health impact of poor air quality on prospective residents.
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The report notes that the main cause of nitrogen dioxide, which can cause and exacerbate respiratory problems, is due to HGV traffic in the area, which is close to the docks.
The report says that several actions have been put in place to reduce levels in the area, including helping change the port booking system and redesigning improvements to ‘hamburger’ roundabouts, where the main road passes through the centre of the roundabout.
Although some steps have been taken, the report adds: “It is recognised, however, that dealing with road traffic related emissions in this area with the potential increase in HGV port traffic is extremely challenging and
alternative/innovative measures need to be considered.”
Nearby Millers Bridge has also been identified as an area of high air pollution, again due to traffic from HGVs land industrial processes linked to the docks.
The report says that there have been some successful measures in the area to reduce emissions, with intensive road and footpath cleaning.
Joint work has also been carried out with the Environment agency to monitor emissions in the area, with a new system introduced to give priority to HGVs, reducing stops at traffic likes – as well as changes to major junctions to improve traffic flow, measures which have kept particulate matter levels at “standard” levels for the past eight years.
However, the report says, it has been much more “challenging” dealing with levels of nitrogen oxide in the area, which is leading the council to consider alternative measures which could be introduced to try to bring the air quality to more acceptable levels.
Traffic has also been causing air pollution problems at Crosby Road and South Road in Waterloo, although the report, which has been produced ahead of a meeting of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee in January, says that recent junction improvement works are showing promising results in reducing air pollution in that area.
The junction at Hawthorne Road and Church Road in Litherland has also been identified as an air pollution hotspot, with road traffic the main cause of the problem.
The report says that an increase n HGV traffic from the port is expected to increase levels in the area, which have remained steady for the past for years, in the future.
Overall air pollution levels dropped significantly across Sefton over the past couple of years, with successive lockdowns due to covid and a reduction in traffic being described as the main reason.
The report adds: “Obviously 2020 was an exceptional year for air quality and it is still unclear whether pollution levels will return to those recorded before Covid or whether some reductions will be longer term with more people working flexibly and/or from home.”
The council are currently working on a plan for a clean air zone in the borough, with a detailed report due to be brought to councillors next year.
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