Town's air quality improves 'after 20mph speed limit'

Air pollution in Lydney town centre has dropped to safer levels

A town centre has been removed from a pollution hotspot register partly because of a lowered speed limit and low emission cars, according to a council.

Air quality in Lydney, Gloucestershire, has been monitored since 2010 because of high levels of pollution caused by traffic congestion through the high street.

But Forest of Dean District Council has agreed to remove the area from monitoring after three consecutive years of safer levels.

A council report said the drop in nitrogen dioxide was caused by numerous factors including more people working remotely since Covid, and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

The air quality management area was launched in 2010 by the council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

It incorporated High Street, east of the Town Hall, Hill Street and Newerne Street, and extends up Bream Road and Forest Road.

The Hill Street junctions with Forest Road and Bream Road were particularly high in pollution levels, the report said, with cars idling and stop-start traffic.

More people driving low and ultra-low emission vehicles is thought to have improved air quality in Lydney

Despite no specific measures being put in place to address poor air quality, the council report said it had improved because of:

• More people working from home after the pandemic and a rise in the number of virtual meetings

• More people driving low and ultra-low emission vehicles

• An improvement in engine and exhaust technology

• A 20mph speed limit being introduced in 2013 in Lydney town centre.

Councillor Jackie Fraser, the council's cabinet member of environment, said in the meeting: "The air quality management area was put in place due to concentrations of nitrogen dioxide being above the UK objective.

"Since then monitoring has continued, and the data now confirms that with five years of monitoring, we are now compliant with the levels.

"So in accordance with the local air quality management guidance, the council is now expected to revoke the air quality management area."

The council was allowed to remove monitoring because of rules set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.