Council strongly refutes claims Central6 LTN scheme is causing more pollution

WARRINGTON Borough Council has strongly refuted claims by campaigners that the controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) schemes at Westy and Latchford have increased pollution.

It follows a call from campaigners opposing the Central6 schemes for an emergency investigation, claiming pollution has risen by 50 per cent.

Residents recently hand-delivered a letter to The Environment Agency in Warrington asking it to investigate a rise in pollution across Latchford Village and Westy.
They say Official figures show there has been an increase in Nitrogen Oxides pollution of 20% on Knutsford Road and 50% on Kingsway South in recent months. There is also expected to be an additional 100 Tons of Co2 released into the air according to figures.

But the borough council strongly disagree with the claims, saying any rises in nitrogen dioxide levels between summer and winter are due to weather influences and have concluded that the Westy LTN is not having a measurable adverse impact on air quality in the area.

But opponents from the Stop the Central6 campaign group claim pollution increases were buried in an official report and dismissed as simply “lower than or in line with historical trends.”
However, they say the report shows pollution has increased significantly and are blaming traffic jams following the blocking of Grange Avenue – a Key Connecting Road for residents in Westy/Latchford. Grange Avenue was blocked with planters by the Council in June 2022 as part of its Central6 Street Plans.
Since Grange Avenue was blocked official monitoring, undertaken by Warrington Council’s Central6 consultants, show increases in traffic levels of 216% on some of Latchford’s roads. Residents experience daily traffic jams and pollution across Latchford which then spiral back into Grappenhall, Orford and Warrington Town centre.

Valerie Daniels, from The Campaign to Scrap the Central6 Street Plans, said: “If this level of pollution had been caused by a factory it would have been closed. I delivered a letter in person to the Environment Agency who we hope can help.
“The simple way to clear the Central6 pollution bombs drifting over Warrington is to unblock Grange Avenue. The Council’s own research shows Grange Avenue lies at the centre of chaos and pollution. It’s no good them trying to tell us pollution is fine when it is going up by this amount. It’s our kids and those with lung conditions who are suffering. ”
“In the most recent report the consultants have downplayed the levels of pollution. Despite a rise in pollution, from the moment the planters were dropped, they claim “are lower than or in line with historical trends.”

Sources of pollution data
C6 Streets Plan – Westy LTN – Interim Monitoring Report – October 2022
•Traffic Flow data Broadbent Avenue increased by 216%, Henshall Avenue increased by 60%, A50 Kingsway South (south of Grange Avenue) increased by 14%. Pg 15 and Pg5
•Pollution increases 50% Kingsway South (Nitrogen Oxides up from about 22 to 32 μg/m3) pg 24, and 20% Knutsford Road (Nitrogen Oxides up from about 18 to 22 μg/m3) Pg 25
More about the Campaign to Scrap the Central6 Street Plans can be found at www.central6.org

In response to the campaign group’s claims, a Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “We strongly disagree that there has been a rise in traffic pollution in the Latchford Village and Westy area since the launch of the trial Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN). Our monitoring data, which is produced by our environment team, and looks at air quality across over 30 sites in the borough, quite clearly demonstrates a long term trend of improvement in nitrogen dioxide levels. This trend is also observed within the LTN area, where there are significantly fewer vehicles, due to the measures in place. We have also considered the location in Latchford with the highest level of nitrogen dioxide, and looked at the trend since 2017 to see if there is any increase in 2022 due to the LTN. This shows that nitrogen dioxide levels continue to improve.

“It is also important to note that rises in nitrogen dioxide levels between summer and winter are due to weather influences. By looking at the data, it is clear that all sites across the borough showed that nitrogen dioxide levels were at their lowest in June and then increased during the remainder of the year, peaking in winter. A comparison of the data for the Latchford LTN area has been made with a monitoring site on Winwick Road, an area which is not affected by any LTN measures. This has confirmed that Winwick Road follows the same trend as the Westy LTN area in terms of increased nitrogen dioxide levels after June.
“The predominant source of this pollutant is road traffic. However, nitrogen dioxide levels fluctuate throughout the year due to weather influences that affect dispersion and secondary formation of pollutants. At this stage, we are concluding that the Westy LTN is not having a measurable adverse impact on air quality in the area and that any monthly increases and changes are due to weather influences. Current nitrogen dioxide levels in this area are meeting the national objective limits, which are set based on health grounds. We will, however, continue to measure the air quality in the area, throughout the duration of the trial LTN.”