Air pollution in Halton

Evidence given at a Commons Environmental Audit committee meeting in February this year would suggest that we are underestimating the adverse health effects that particulates emitted by diesel traffic and pollution from power stations like Fiddlers Ferry is having on the population, particularly in urban areas.

The report was critical of Government action in failing to tackle the issue suggesting that up to between 35,000 to 50,000 early deaths per year nationwide are caused by such emissions. Responding to this latest research Professor Kelly Kings College London giving evidence to the environmental audit committee suggested that in areas that have high concentrations of particulates emitted there should be reductions in the movement of diesel powered traffic( HGV's etc) by between 20% to 30%.

This latest research is relevant to Halton council's position on the Mersey Multimodal Gateway. Although Halton Council maintain that their plans for the Multimodal Gateway would reduce HGV road traffic this reduction only relates to long haul travel. In fact HGV movements in Halton would increase dramatically in an area which has high incidences of chest related problems. I am all in favour of moving HGV traffic onto rail but I would question actually using Halton as a hub for such a distribution link because of its health related problems.

Its reckoned, in fact, that developments like the Multimodal Gateway in Halton along with other proposals will create a situation where there will be a possible increase of up to at least 600 vehicles (this figure has been obtained from information provided by Halton Borough Council and estimates from other sources) but more likely 1000 vehicles every 24 hour cycle. Maybe there will be employment for some but it is not going to have a beneficial effect on the majority of residents here when health is factored in.

It's important that the council has joined up thinking with regard to their strategic planning in the health and economic development fields.

The Lancaster University's 'Health in Halton study 2003' recommended that,"...all reasonable efforts should be made to work with industry and other organisations...to further reduce levels of pollution within the borough".

In view of the most recent research this adoption of the precautionary principle would seem to be even more relevant. The council has a duty of care to ensure that its economic development plans don't take precedence over other issues of legitimate concern to the citizens of Halton.