Air Pollution at Hockerill - There ARE solutions

Air Pollution at Hockerill - There ARE solutions

In 2009, the Conservative-controlled East Herts District Council (EHDC) fulfilled their statutory obligations and identified that the Hockerill Crossroads and the roads immediately leading up to the junction were in breach of the legally allowable level of air pollution, designating the area as an AQMA (Air Quality Management Area).

In nine long, smoke-filled years, the levels of air pollution have not improved and the most recent study found that the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide at the site were almost twice the legal limit. As Liberal Democrats we are committed to improving air pollution and are concerned with the impact this problem has on local residents, including the old, the young and the infirm.

We acknowledge that there are no straightforward solutions in an area whose roads are in places very narrow, and that retains some elements of a medieval market town. However, we would advocate the following measures to alleviate the pollution and the danger to people's health:

• Widen the road on the left hand side of the London Road, leading into the junction, by demolishing the buildings next to the small flower bed, enabling left turns

• Build a by-pass to the South-East of the town, the funding for which could come partly from a contribution from any new developers for the forthcoming housing increase in the town

• Increase the amount of buses that are available at commuter times from all parts of the town as so many commuters are presently left with little choice but to drive to the railway station

• Change the phasing of the lights at the junction so that there is less congestion involving vehicles unable to quickly turn in the direction they wish to go

We are calling on the council to stop the nine long years of talking shops, leading to plans that never come to fruition, and to take immediate action to stop this burden on Bishop's Stortford's residents' health. To sign our petition, click here.