Mione Goldspink's article for the Bishop's Stortford Flyer, October 2016
October 2016
Local Matters with Mione Goldspink
A recent national survey has reported that Hertfordshire is one of the best counties in the UK for families to live in - it has topped the "Better Family Life Index". This is very good news and makes us all feel glad that we live in such an excellent location. However, what the news does not reveal is that Bishop's Stortford has a serious blemish - a horrible black spot, close to its centre - and this is the massive air pollution at Hockerill Cross roads.
The District Council acknowledged this high level of pollution in 2007, and declared that the junction was an "Air Quality Management Area" -an AQMA. Following stipulations in the Government's Environment Act Order in 1995, local Councils are required to measure the levels of pollution in their areas, to find and to designate the AQMA's, and then to draw up action plans to reduce the pollution. Herts. County Council produced a Plan in 2007, and this included measures to promote walking and cycling, to consider Park and Ride Schemes, and to improve the By-pass.
Not surprisingly, these laudable, but rather vague ambitions have not had much effect.
The air pollution at Hockerill in March 2016 was 76 micrograms of Nitrogen Dioxide, (the recommended limit is 40 micrograms.) This was the 2nd highest reading in the East of England. The World Health Organisation has approved these standards, and has calculated that high levels of pollution have a serious effect on public health and can contribute to premature death.
It seems to me that the Tory-controlled County Council is failing in its duty to protect the health of everyone in Bishop's Stortford. It is true that there was a meeting of Councillors, Police, and Health and Transport experts early in the summer to discuss the matter, but there is still no definite action plan. I would ask the County to provide more buses to the Station at "Commuter Times", to change the sequence of Traffic Lights at Hockerill, and/or to demolish the building beside the flower bed, thereby creating a left-turning lane, and to build a South-east By-pass for the Town.
It is disgraceful that we are still being subjected to such appalling air pollution, 9 years after the problem was identified.
In spite of this terrible air pollution, there are many good activities taking place in the Town , and much good work is done for charity. I would like to congratulate Grove Cottage on celebrating its 50th Anniversary. Grove Cottage is the Town's home for Mencap, and is a welcoming place for all those with a mental disability and for their families, too.
I am writing this in the middle of September, in the heat of an Indian Summer, with the flowers on the Causeway still looking beautiful, and the children having a lovely time in the Splash Pool. I hope that the warmth of summer will last us well into the autumn.
Mione Goldspink. (Chairman Bishop's Stortford Liberal Democrats).
email: mionegoldspink@hotmail.com