You must be choking as city misses targets on air quality

Published Date: 16 September 2008
By ANDREW PICKEN

MORE than three-quarters of Edinburgh's most polluted streets are failing to meet European air quality targets.
Latest council figures show emission levels across the Capital are getting worse, with just three of the city's 14 air quality management areas on track to meet EU targets on air quality by 2010. And pollution has got so bad in other parts of Edinburgh that council officials have recommended that West Port and Great Junction Street are also added to the list of sites monitored for emissions. A series of measures, including giving lorry drivers maps to steer clear of pollution hotspots, are set to be introduced.In 2006, seven out of 13 areas monitored were failing to meet minimum EU air quality levels. Among the new additions to this are Queen Street and sections of Roseburn Terrace and North Bridge. Long-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide can affect lung function and increase the risk of respiratory symptoms such as bronchitis, especially in children. In 2010, the EU targets on air quality become mandatory, and the council faces being hit by fines of thousands of pounds. An air quality action plan drawn up by city officials recommends rejecting a £10 million package of mandatory measures, such as the low emission zone scheme in London where buses and lorries pay a charge if their vehicles don't meet emissions targets. Instead, officials have recommended a series of voluntary codes for bus, lorry and taxi firms. This will include encouraging bus and freight operators to switch to cleaner vehicles, but also providing maps to keep lorries away from the polluted areas. City leaders will also look into buying "greener" council vehicles if the new air pollution strategy is approved by councillors next week. Councillor Robert Aldridge, the city's environment leader, said: "There is currently a national trend that shows nitrogen dioxide levels are not falling in line with predicted emissions in many cities in the UK, with more than 200 councils having to declare air quality management areas. "Edinburgh has the air quality problems that you would expect for a city of its size and we know that the main factor is emissions from road traffic, in particular buses and lorries. "We've been tackling this and the agreement we have with Lothian Buses to reduce emissions from its buses will be extended to other operators. We'll also be working with freight companies to do the same, especially for 'hotspots'."When asked if he thought Edinburgh would meet the EU targets by 2010, Cllr Aldridge said: "I am not sure if we will, but clearly Edinburgh is not alone in this regard. Banning vehicles is not realistic because the traffic will find other ways and you will just displace the problem."The EU annual average objective for nitrogen dioxide is 40 micrograms per cubic metre. However, a number of the city's busiest roads regularly exceed this, including West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place where levels often reach 86 micrograms. Among the other streets set to fail to meet EU targets by 2010 are Torphichen Place, Princes Street, Roseburn Terrace, North Bridge and Gorgie Road.