News – GB – Low-traffic neighborhoods worsen air pollution, according to a report

Posted: 13h40 GMT, 6 December 2020 | Update: 14h59 GMT, the 6 December 2020

Levels of a poisonous car exhaust pollutant have dropped in parts of south London following scrapping of low-traffic areas (LTN), according to a report

Nitrogen dioxide levels (NO2) were higher in 11 streets of south London when residential roads were closed and abandoned when seven Wandsworth Council projects were halted, reports The Telegraph

Four weeks of analysis revealed in board review shows pollution levels higher on major roads where congestion has increased significantly, often stopping completely during rush hour

The district hosted seven LTNs in August as part of a government campaign to promote walking and cycling after the lockdown

The trials were halted in September due to “ the impact on access for emergency services ” and “ des embouteillages importants et durables sur les routes principales ont été identifiés, ce qui soulève des inquiétudes concernant la pollution ”, according to the report of 25 pages.

The report states that the LTN led to «an unexpected and unacceptable result that forced the board to take the decision to suspend them, to take a step back and review them»

This comes amid claims that Boris Johnson has gone “ ballistic ” in a row on a controversial cycle path – and her cycling czar vowed to send the prime minister down if the council leaders agreed not to take her off

Nitrogen dioxide levels (NO2) were higher in 11 streets of south London when residential roads were closed and abandoned when seven Wandsworth Council projects were halted, according to reports (file image, central london, 26 November)

The Kensington High Street cycle path has become the unlikely battleground between cycling fanatics and angry drivers

Last night, la dispute a pris une tournure bizarre quand il a été révélé que le tsar cycliste de M. Johnson, at 95000 £ per year, avait dit au Royal Borough of Kensington et Chelsea de ne pas déchirer la piste cyclable – and even agreed to send his boss. to be photographed taking it down

Andrew Gilligan made the extravagant offer as he desperately pleaded with transport chiefs on Kensington Road amid national fury over new cycle lanes in 250 million pounds that caused major congestion and blocked emergency vehicle traffic across the country

His decision came as the mayor of London Labor, Sadiq Khan, threatened last week to take control of the road from the conservative-controlled local authority, to restore the track and force the chiefs of the councils to reimburse the 300000 £ d’argent public utilisés pour la mettre. là en premier lieu

Review of the LTN by the Director of Environmental and Community Services, Paul Chadwick, reveals the effect of road and cycle lane closures on pollution

He says: «The results of the comparison of the air quality data between the period monitored during the LTN showed an increase in NO2 compared to the suspension of the test This increase mainly concerned the main roads’

The report's authors say the data should be viewed with caution. “ strong warnings ”, including unusual travel patterns amid the Covid-19 pandemic and limited surveillance period

Generally, air quality surveys are carried out over six months, so that the «sampling window» of four weeks can only provide a «instantaneous», say the authors of the report (file image)

Generally, air quality surveys are carried out over six months, so that the «sampling window» of four weeks can only provide a «instantaneous», they add

The board monitored nitrogen dioxide levels at 11 locations in and around LTNs when road closures were in effect and after their termination

Each location showed that the levels of NO2 pollution – emitted by car engines – were higher while LTNs were in effect, compared to when they were interrupted

In four areas, NO2 levels exceeded council air quality target When council abandoned the project, NO2 levels have dropped dramatically, with just a little above the recommended level, according to reports

Les raisons potentielles de l’augmentation du trafic et des temps de réponse plus lents de 999 incluent l’introduction de voies cyclables – which means the elimination of certain lanes reserved for vehicles

Another reason for the increase in congestion could be satellite navigation and emergency services which do not “ pick up ” not the newly closed roads

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport said: “ As the report itself makes clear, il est impossible de tirer des conclusions définitives de ces données limitées, and therefore it is misleading to suggest that the low traffic areas of Wandsworth have led to worsening air quality in the area

«Des programmes de cyclisme et de marche bien conçus peuvent apporter des avantages environnementaux et autres à tous, but as we have pointed out, il est essentiel qu’une consultation appropriée soit entreprise avec les parties prenantes locales avant leur introduction. Les programmes de cyclisme et de marche devraient être constamment réexaminés, including their impacts on air quality and traffic’

The news comes as ministers promise 3 £9 million to plant more trees in cities and along rivers to reduce the risk of flooding

Funding will help Boris Johnson's government meet its goal of planting 30 000 hectares (74 000 acres) trees every year in the UK from here 2025.

A boost in cash 2 £5 million will go to the plantation in the cities, cities and countryside to fight climate change and create new habitats for wildlife

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Air pollution