WHIRLIES AIR NOT FIT TO BREATHE: YOU’VE GOT TO BE CHOKING!
By: South Lanarkshire Green Party Date: 7th May 2008

Kirsten Robb urges South Lanarkshire Council to take peoples’ health seriously

Local Green campaigner, Kirsten Robb, has urged South Lanarkshire Council to take peoples’ health seriously after she obtained information that showed air pollution around the Whirlies Roundabout breaches European safety limits. Greens are urging immediate action to stop air pollution increasing in the town and to make our air safe to breathe.

The figures, which Kirsten obtained from the council, show high levels of particulate matter. These tiny particles of material, whose primary source is road traffic, can cause lung damage and exacerbate asthma, bronchitis and heart conditions. Pollution levels are now so high that the local authority has recently been forced to declare the Whirlies an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ (AQMA). The report also identified a site close to residential areas at the Kingsway to be approaching safety limits for nitrogen dioxide. It recommended that the council start monitoring other busy junctions in the town where the air may also be polluted.

Kirsten commented, “I am very concerned that local residents and children are breathing damaging levels of pollution. We are campaigning for pollution information to be published on the council website and encourage local residents to voice their concerns as part of the council’s current consultation on the Whirlies AQMA.”

“The council has known about this problem for some years now. To tackle it now, we need to cut vehicle emissions and reduce traffic levels. This would involve the council carrying out more roadside emission tests and encouraging the owners of bus, taxi and haulage fleets and of course, the council itself, to replace or improve their vehicles to meet safe air standards. Serious investment in improving walking and cycling facilities and in public transport will help reduce traffic. The council can also use their planning powers to ensure new developments are planned to reduce dependence on private transport. It’s time for responsible action to put people’s health first and make our air fit to breathe again.”